Bulletin de liaison et d'information - Institut kurde de Paris

Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basm ()zeti
The following news report may not be republished or redistributed,
the prior written consent of Reuters Ltd.
in whole or in part, without
By Daren Butler
ANKARA, Aprilll (Reuter) - Turkey announced on Friday a $3l-billion modernisation
programme for its armed forces, the second largest in NATO, in a move designed to build the
domestic arms industry.
"Thirty-one billion U.S. dollars has been programmed for the Turkish armed forces
modernisation," Defence Minister T urhan T ayan told a news conference.
Turkey is seeking greater self-reliance in the defence industry because attempts to buy arms
from the We~t have often heen hindered by human rights concerns.
The programme includes plans to buy more than 100 helicopters and more than 600
armoured vehicles and to construct five frigates. There are also plans for the modernisation of
over 100 F-4 and F-16 planes, as well as the manufacture and modernisation of tanks.
T ayan said it was the first time such a detailed defence programme, aimed at local makers,
had been presented.
"It is expected that the 10-year acquisition programme will have a positive influence on the
development of industrial groups and their future plans," he said.
The plan was conceived as a way to regenerate the domestic defence industry, born out of
an embargo against Turkey following its invasion of northern Cyprus in 1974.
Turkey has struggled with embargos and arms procurement delays in recent years because
of its human rights record in its fight with Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) rebels.
The U.S. CoOngresshalted the sale of 10 Cobra attack helicopters to Turkey last year in
concern over their possible use against the guerrillas. A planned purchase of three navy frigates
from Washington was also blocked.
Turkey's defence activities include considerable foreign involvement and Tayan said the
programme would involve international companies with the necessary technology.
"In order for the future investment to be economic it is a necessity to address not only the
domestic market, but the foreign market as well," he said.
Among cooperation proposals under consideration since Islamist Necmettin Erbakan
became prime minister was development of a joint aircraft assembly industry with Indonesia.
Ankara already has a defence industry cooperation deal with Israel, which includes a $600
million accord under which an Israeli company is upgrading Turkey's F-4 Phantom fighters.
Turkish Islamists, including Erbakan, have criticised the deal, which has also drawn protests
from Iran and many in the Arab world.
In February, Turkey signed $543 million worth of deals with the French-German group
Eurocopter to build 30 Cougar helicopters and with the U.S. firm Sikorsky to buy Sea Hawk
helicopters.
Turkey's state defence company Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and other Turkish
firms will account for 30 percent of the $430 million deal with Eurocopter.
The Turkish armed forces number 639,000, with more than 4,000 tanks and more than 400
combat aircraft, according to data published by the Institute for Strategic Studies.
Western governments are concerned about an arms race between Turkey and Greece for
military dominance in the eastern Mediterranean.
REUTER
183