ANKARA DELAYS FINAL DECISION ON MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM UNTIL APRIL 24

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Feb 20 2015

February 20, 2015, Friday/ 17:00:20/ SERVET YANATMA / ANKARA

Turkish decision-makers have agreed to postpone a final decision in
a missile defense system acquisition tender until after April 24,
the centennial of what Armenians call a genocide of their people,
apparently linking the awarding of the contract to the French and US
governments’ stances on the events.

NATO member Turkey chose the China Precision Machinery Import and
Export Corp (CPMIEC) as its preferred bidder in 2013, and Defense
Minister İsmet Yılmaz indicated on Thursday that Ankara was planning
to continue with the Chinese system, saying the assessment of bids
was completed.

The Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM), however, clarified
in a subsequent statement that a final decision had not been made yet,
saying Turkey was still in discussion with other bidders.

Eurosam, which is owned by Franco-Italian missile maker MBDA and
France’s Thales, is the second-best bidder in the tender. US-listed
Raytheon Co. is also competing in the tender, with its Patriot missile
defense system.

The Armenian genocide claims have long been a thorn in Turkey’s
relations with Western countries. Ankara categorically denies claims
that 1.5 million Armenians were massacred in eastern Anatolia as part
of a systematic genocide campaign during World War I, and says there
were deaths on both sides when Armenians revolted against the Ottoman
Empire for independence.

France recognizes the genocide allegations and an effort to criminalize
its denial failed only because it was revoked by the country’s
Constitutional Council.

US presidents traditionally release a statement on April 24 every
year to commemorate the deaths of Armenians. No US president has so
far referred to the deaths as “genocide,” to the disappointment of
the Armenian diaspora.

Officials attending an SSM meeting in January on the missile defense
tender agreed to wait a little longer before reaching a final decision,
Today’s Zaman has learned.

The delay in announcing a final decision on the missile defense tender
is seen as an effort to use it as leverage against any undesired
steps from the US or France regarding the Armenian genocide claims,
given the Armenians’ stepped-up efforts for wider recognition in the
run-up the 100th anniversary of the tragedy.

A Turkish Foreign Ministry official said that the final decision on
the missile defense system is “not being rushed,” saying the Turkish
authorities are conducting a thorough assessment in line with national
interests. Speaking to Today’s Zaman, the official declined to comment
on the suggestion that the decision is used as leverage in efforts
to counter Armenian lobbying ahead of April 24.