Turkey rejects Israel Nato exercise

[Alexandros]

Relations between Israel and Turkey have worsened since Israel's war on Gaza [AFP]


Turkey rejects Israel Nato exercise

UPDATED ON:

Sunday, October 11, 2009

10:36 Mecca time, 07:36 GMT

The Israeli military says Ankara has prevented an annual air force drill in Turkey from taking place because of its demand that there be no Israeli participation.

The annual drill was scheduled to begin on Monday, 12th October, with air forces from the US and Italy.

But according to the Israeli Haaretz newspaper, both Washington and Rome withdrew their participation following Turkey's request to ban Israel from the exercise.

The Israeli military said in a statement that the drill was delayed "indefinitely" because of Turkey's decision ... "not to allow the Israeli air force to take part".

Relations between the two countries have deteriorated sharply since Israel's winter war on Gaza, when Turkey denounced Israeli conduct during the war.

And Ahmet Davutoglu, the Turkish foreign minister, cancelled his visit to Israel in September after Israel denied his request to visit the Gaza Strip from Israeli territory.

Link

[Alexandros]

Re: Turkey rejects Israel Nato exercise

US chides Turkey for excluding Israel from NATO drills

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

WASHINGTON – The Associated Press

The United States has gently criticized Turkey for canceling a NATO military exercise because Israel also was participating.

Neither the Turks nor NATO has confirmed that Israel's participation in the exercises over Turkey was Ankara's reason for canceling it.

U.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said Tuesday, however, that "as to the question of whether there was a government that was invited to participate and then removed at the last minute, we think it's inappropriate for any nation to be removed from an exercise like this at the last minute."

He was asked whether that was what happened and if Israel was the spurned country. He confirmed both.

Muslim Turkey's traditionally close ties with the xxxish state have cooled since the Israel-Hamas Gaza war in January.

Link

[Alexandros]

Re: Turkey rejects Israel Nato exercise


Israeli soldiers were portrayed as murderers, Israel says


Turkish TV series angers Israel

Page last updated at 00:05 GMT, Thursday, 15 October 2009 01:05 UK

Israel's foreign minister has ordered Turkey's ambassador to be summoned over a Turkish TV series that portrays Israeli soldiers killing children.

Avigdor Lieberman said the programme, broadcast on Turkey's state television, incited hatred against the country.

In one clip screened on Israeli TV, an Israeli soldier takes aim at a smiling young girl.

The complaint is the latest to strain the relationship between Turkey and Israel.

Strategic ties

In a statement, Mr Lieberman said the series, which "presents Israeli soldiers as the murderers of innocent children, would not be appropriate for broadcast even in an enemy country and certainly not in a state which maintains diplomatic relations with Israel".

Another clip from the series - which tells the story of a Palestinian family - reportedly shows a bullet fired by an Israeli solders travelling in slow motion towards a Palestinian child.

The programme was broadcast on Tuesday evening on Turkey's TRT One Channel.

Turkey is one of the few Muslim countries to have relations with Israel, but these have suffered since the Islamist-rooted AK Party was elected to power in 2002, deteriorating further after Israel's offensive in Gaza in January.

Last week, Ankara cancelled an international military exercise in which Israeli pilots were due to participate.

Israel's Defence Minister Ehud Barak sought to play down the rift, stressing that the two states shared "longstanding, important and strategic" ties.

Link

[Alexandros]

Re: Turkey rejects Israel Nato exercise

Erdoğan says decision to bar Israel was people's will

15 October 2009, Thursday

TODAY'S ZAMAN ANKARA

The government was listening to the public when it decided to exclude Israel from an international military exercise, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was quoted as saying yesterday, days after the Foreign Ministry denied the decision was politically motivated.

Erdoğan told al-Arabiya television that his government acted as a "spokesman for the conscience of the people" and that the Turkish people did not want Israel to participate in the exercise, the Anatolia news agency reported.

Israel has extensive defense ties with Turkey, a NATO member and one of the few Muslim nations to have built an alliance with the xxxish state.

Yet tension prevails in the ties between Israel and Turkey, particularly since Ankara's harsh criticism of Israel's three-week offensive in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip in December and January. Erdoğan reiterated in the al-Arabiya interview that Israel killed 1,500 people, mostly women and children, in Gaza and destroyed schools and hospitals.

Turkey and Israel both denied on Monday that the cancellation of air force exercises scheduled for this week posed any threat to their long-standing bilateral ties and strategic interests. The Turkish Foreign Ministry, in a statement on Monday, ruled out comments made by certain Israeli officials who suggested that political motives were behind changing the exercise, urging Israel to display “common sense” in their statements.

Meanwhile, Syria, a regional rival of Israel, has said it will hold military exercises with Turkey. “We held our first joint land military exercise [with Turkey] last spring. And today we have agreed to do a more comprehensive, bigger one,” Syrian Defense Minister Ali Habib, speaking at a news conference held in the border city of Gaziantep on Tuesday evening at which Syrian and Turkish ministers responded to questions following the first ministerial-level meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, recently established between the two neighbors.

In the Syrian border city of Aleppo, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem commended Ankara for canceling of the exercises, speaking at the same meeting as Habib.

“We warmly welcome the decision. This decision is based on Turkey's approach towards Israel and reflects the way Turkey regards the Israeli attack on Gaza,” Moallem told reporters in Aleppo, where the first part of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting was held.

In Washington, the US State Department gently criticized Turkey on Tuesday over the exercise controversy, with Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Philip J. Crowley telling reporters that “as to the question of whether there was a government that was invited to participate and then removed at the last minute, we think it's inappropriate for any nation to be removed from an exercise like this at the last minute.”

He was asked whether that was what happened and if Israel was the spurned country. He confirmed that it was correct. Also on Tuesday, in Israel, Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom urged Turkey “to come to its senses” in comments over the issue. “Turkey is an important Muslim state sharing strategic ties with Israel. I hope the Turks come to their senses and realize that the relationship between the two states is in their interest no less than ours. The deterioration of ties with Turkey in recent days is regrettable,” he said.

Davutoğlu defies pressure by Israeli lobby

In Gaziantep, Davutoğlu was asked by a Syrian reporter whether he is worried about any probable counter-attacks by Israeli lobbies in the international arena following the recent uneasiness between the two countries.

“Turkey's foreign policy has always been based on principles. When there have been bad policies, as in the Gaza incidents, we have shown our position. Turkey has never interfered in any other country's internal affairs,” Davutoğlu said first of all, underlining that Turkey has consistently favored regional cooperation and stability.

“I'm telling this to you as the foreign minister of the Turkish Republic. There is nothing over which the Turkish Republic should feel worried. We are ready for dialogue with everybody on every issue,” he said.

The Syrian reporter's question was an apparent reference to remarks by Israeli defense officials cited by the Israeli daily The Jerusalem Post. In regards to the exercises dispute, those officials told the daily they would end Israeli support for Turkey in its efforts to stop the US Congress voting to declare the killings of Anatolian Armenians by the Ottoman Turks genocide.

Link

[Alexandros]

Re: Turkey rejects Israel Nato exercise


Turkey agreed four years ago to buy 10 Heron UAVs for over $180 million from Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Elbit Systems, Ltd.


Delay in delivery of Herons behind drill crisis, not politics

14 October 2009, Wednesday

ERCAN YAVUZ ANKARA

What spurred the cancellation of this week's NATO air force exercises in Turkey was yet another delay in the delivery of unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, to Turkey by Israel, and not Turkish opposition to the country due to its devastating offensive into the Gaza Strip, an air forces official told Today's Zaman.

The official, who wanted to remain anonymous, stated that Israel has failed yet again to deliver the Israeli-made surveillance drones, known as Herons, to Turkey. “Turkey needs those vehicles in its fight against terror. What led to the recent crisis between Turkey and Israel was the delay in the delivery,” he noted.

The Anatolian Eagle exercise has been held every few years since 2001 to boost international aerial cooperation. The exercises, which are open to international participants, are held in different stages at three different times of the year. The last-minute cancelation spurred the Israeli side to claim that Turkey wanted to exclude its air force from taking part in the drill.

Israeli media reports quoted Israeli defense officials as saying that the exercises in Turkey had been scrapped over Turkish opposition to Israel, particularly due to its devastating offensive into the Gaza Strip in December 2008 and January 2009.

Ankara, however, denied the claims and said it would be wrong to derive a political meaning or conclusion from the postponing of the international part of the exercise.

Turkey agreed four years ago to buy 10 Heron UAVs for over $180 million from Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Elbit Systems, Ltd.

However, the Israeli firms have missed the deadline for delivery. Israeli media reports claimed that Turkey was considering terminating its contract with Israel, but Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül said in May that Turkey would not break the contract. The Israeli company later announced that it would deliver four Herons in August, followed by another two and then the last four by the end of October.

“As Israeli authorities failed to satisfactorily convince Turkey that they would be able to achieve the planned date for delivery of the Herons, the Air Forces Command informed the General Staff of the situation. Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ shared his concerns with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during a security meeting in late September. The prime minister assured Başbuğ that the government would back any military sanction on Israel. The General Staff asked Israeli authorities one last time about the delivery of the Herons. Israeli authorities refused to give an exact date and said they planned to deliver the vehicles by the end of 2009, whereupon the General Staff decided to cancel the international part of the exercises,” remarked the air forces official.

What was problematic about the delivery of Herons was, according to Israeli engineers, the difficulty in the strengthening of Heron engines to enable local Aselsan-made electro-optical payloads (Aselfir300T) to be fitted on the Heron UAVs. The Aselsan payload weighed more, which necessitated the strengthening of the Heron UAV engines.

Under the contract, Israel assumed the responsibility of integrating Aselsan payloads on the Heron UAVs in order to enable it to reach 30,000 feet with an endurance of 52 hours.

Two UAVs out of 10, which arrived in Turkey last year in November with an almost two-year delay, have not yet been accepted by the Turkish military due to persistent problems occurring in strengthening the engines to enable the Aselsan payloads to be fitted on the UAVs.

In the meantime, government spokesperson and Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Çiçek stated that a proposal for the cancellation of the Anatolian Eagle exercise came from the General Staff. “The proposal for cancelation came from the General Staff, not the government. However, there was no disagreement between the two bodies on the decision,” Çiçek noted.

According to the government spokesperson, the decision for cancelation was a technical issue. “The Anatolian Eagle is an organization of the Turkish Armed Forces [TSK.] It is up to the air forces and the General Staff to decide on which countries will participate in the exercises. The government has not interfered in the decision,” Çiçek added.

The Turkish-Israeli crisis reached its peak on Jan. 29 after Turkish Prime Minister Erdoğan walked out of a panel discussion in Davos in protest of an Israeli attack on Gaza.

During a session on Gaza at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Erdoğan walked off the stage when a moderator, Washington Post columnist David Ignatius, cut off his remarks in response to an impassioned monologue by Israeli President Shimon Peres, who strongly defended Israel's offensive against Gaza, which claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians and injured thousands of others.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu also commented on the recent drill crisis and called on every country to refrain from any act that could harm the atmosphere of peace and stability in the region.

"Our ministry has made a statement on the issue. We would expect everyone to act with common sense and in a manner to avoid any act that could harm the atmosphere of peace and stability in our region," the minister told reporters yesterday.

Link

[Alexandros]

Re: Turkey rejects Israel Nato exercise




Israel to deliver Herons by end of 2009, Turkey mulls penalty for delay

15 October 2009, Thursday

EMRE SONCAN ANKARA

A top official at the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries has announced that Israel will deliver unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, to Turkey by the end of 2009, adding that Turkey plans to impose a monetary penalty on Israel for the delay.

Speaking to Today's Zaman, the official stated that the long-delayed delivery is expected to happen in November or December at the latest. “Turkey plans to impose a heavy monetary penalty on Israel for the delay. If this country refuses to comply with the penalty, then Turkey will head to the International Court of Commercial Arbitration,” noted the official. According to the official, the penalty could mount to $3 million or $4 million. Turkey and Israel have recently been at odds due to Israeli-made surveillance drones, known as Herons. Earlier this week Turkey cancelled long-expected NATO air force exercises, which Turkish officials explained as a retaliation for the delay.

Turkey agreed four years ago to buy 10 Heron UAVs for over $180 million from Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Elbit Systems, Ltd. However, the Israeli firms missed the deadline for delivery. The Israeli company was expected to deliver four Herons in August, followed by another two and then the last four by the end of October.

What was problematic about the delivery of Herons was, according to Israeli engineers, the difficulty in the strengthening of Heron engines to enable local Aselsan-made electro-optical payloads (Aselfir300T) to be fitted onto the Heron UAVs. The Aselsan payload weighed more, which necessitated the strengthening of the Heron UAV engines.

Link

[Alexandros]

Re: Turkey rejects Israel Nato exercise

PM denies Herons link in canceling drill with Israel

Thursday, October 15, 2009

ANKARA – Hürriyet Daily News

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan denied on Thursday a link between a delayed delivery of unmanned, aerial vehicles from Israel and excluding the country from an international military exercise.

“Let me be very clear. Governments have an obligation to take into consideration the demands and opinions of their people. I cannot ignore them. The people want to take this direction,” Erdoğan told reporters before his departure to Iraq Thursday morning.

Press reports said the main reason for excluding Israel from the Anatolian Eagle, an international military exercise, was that Israel delayed the delivery of Heron unmanned aerial vehicles, which are successfully used in the fight against terrorism.

“No official information was taken into consideration (on the Heron issue),” Erdoğan said. The issue was a legal one and the foreign and defense ministries were following up through appropriate channels.

On the cancellation of the international part of the exercise, Erdoğan said: “Turkey is a strong country and makes decisions on its own. It is not influenced by instructions from other countries.”

Recent reports indicated that Turkey and the United States had jointly decided to postpone Anatolian Eagle. The military exercises have run for the last six years with the participation of the U.S., Israel and other NATO and non-NATO countries.

Link

[KanadaHye]

Re: Turkey rejects Israel Nato exercise

I wonder if these drones are to be used on the PKK..... hmmmm.

[Eddo211]

Re: Turkey rejects Israel Nato exercise

New prime-time program on Ankara's state-sponsored channel TRT1 depicts monstrous image of Israeli military as bloodthirsty, murderous. Foreign Minister Lieberman summons acting Turkish ambassador following Ynet report, says 'This is a serious case of state-sponsored incitement'

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3790178,00.html

It shows IDF as bloodtirsthy murderious Army killing little girls in cold blood and spitting on dead Palestinian boys fighting with a sling.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M596Ga8-rmU&feature=player_embedded

Images from the show:





"Broadcasting this series is a serious case of state-sponsored incitement. Such a series, which doesn’t even have a weak connection to reality, and which presents the IDF's soldiers as murderers of innocent children, is unworthy of being broadcast in enemy states, let alone in a country which had full diplomatic relations with Israel." Says Lieberman.

Barak: Turkey central actor in region, Israel should avoid hostility / Roni Sofer
Following Turkey's cancellation of their joint military exercise with Israel, Jerusalem is trying to defuse flames. Defense minister says relations with Turkey are strategic: No place for getting pulled into fiery statements against them. Turkey: Cancellation not political

[Eddo211]

Re: Turkey rejects Israel Nato exercise

Turkey and Syria abolished visa requirements reciprocally today through a ceremony held at Kilis Öncüpınar border gate with participation of Turkish and Syrian foreign ministers.
As hurdles are dissolved, Turkey and Syria take bold steps towards securing peace and stability in their region through new partnerships that is based on mutual trust.
Two neighboring countries signed protocols today for abolishing visa requirements reciprocally in line with enhancing bilateral relations. Overcoming major problems concerning terror that triggered tensions just a few years ago, Turkey and Syria diversify and bolster bilateral relations at the highest level.



Foreign Minister Davutoğlu met his Syrian counterpart in Aleppo in the morning and signed the protocols in Turkey’s Gaziantep city in the afternoon. Ten ministers, in fields of Internal Affairs, Culture and Tourism, Energy and Natural Resources, Transportation, National Defense, Environment, Health, Education and Agriculture, accompanied Davutoğlu during the day and attended the ceremony.
"The main slogan of this meeting is common destiny, history and future, and we will build the future together," Davutoğlu told reporters in Aleppo. "We are going to establish our future together; we will enhance economic cooperation. We hope this partnership to be a good model for the region."
Besides, in line with efforts aiming at stability in the region, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will pay a visit to Iraq, meeting Iraqi President Calal Talabani, Vice President Tariq Al-Hashami and Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki respectively.
Prime Minister Erdoğan will then launch and co-chair the first meeting of the High Level Strategic Cooperation Council with his Iraqi counterpart Maliki. The Council meeting will be accompanied by Turkish and Iraqi cabinet members.

http://www.trt-world.com/trtinternat...gas%20pipeline

Never seen a M-16 magasine to be so long.