Islam Times - Turkey: Radar not against Iran, Russia

Islam Times - Turkish foreign minister has said a NATO radar system, to be established in eastern Turkey, will not be against Iran and Russia.

“Definitely, the system will not be used against Iran, Russia, or other countries,” Ahmet Davutoglu said on Wednesday.

In September, Ankara agreed to host NATO's “early warning radar system” aimed at countering ballistic missile threats coming from outside Europe.

“It is not a missile shield; it is an early warning system. Had not we agreed to establish the system in Turkey, NATO would have established that in Bulgaria. Then only [Turkey's] Marmara region could have been monitored,” Davutoglu said.

Davutoglu also strongly dismissed reports that the radar system may be used to defend Israel.

“Definitely, the early warning system will not serve the Israeli interests and is not a system that would support security of Israel,” the top Turkish diplomat underlined.

A military installation in the village of Kurecik has been chosen as the radar site, which is located 700 kilometers from the Iranian border.

In September 2011, Pentagon spokesman Colonel Dave Lapan said the United States hopes to have the radar deployed there by the end of the year.