Chinese firm wins Turkish tender to co-produce missile defense systemSeptember 26, 2013 - 23:03 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Chinese defense firm CPMIEC has won a Turkish tender to co-produce a long-range air and missile defense system, a statement from the Turkish Defense Minister said on Thursday, Sept 26, according to Reuters. Four missile systems - American Patriot, Russian S-400, French-Italian Eurosam Samp-T and the winner Chinese FD-2000 - were in the running for the Turkish project, worth approximately $4 billion. Turkey now has no such long-range missile defense system. Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz's statement also said a contract to produce six corvette ships by Koc Holding, Turkey's biggest conglomerate, was canceled. A contract to build two ships would be awarded to the Turkish naval shipyard. The construction of four remaining ships will be put out to tender later, it said. Koc Holding was recently accused of backing the 1997 military overthrow of its first Islamist-led government, sending their shares tumbling on fears of a deepening vendetta against the country's secular business elite. The government launched a probe into the taxes of Koc energy firms in July, weeks after criticizing one of the family's hotels for sheltering protesters during anti-government unrest that rocked several cities over the summer. Related links: Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Lemkin Institute petition seeks release of Armenians in Azerbaijan The Lemkin Institute is deeply concerned about the continued illegal detention of political prisoners from Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Armenian Catholicos calls for national unity against threats Karekin II issued a message on Republic Day marking the anniversary of the First Armenian Republic. Pashinyan: Armenia’s desired goal is “on the horizon” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that Armenia is moving forward “without interruption”. Opposition leader, supporters spend night at Sardarapat memorial Police made nearly 300 arrests the day before as Galstanyan and his supporters continued to demonstrate in Yerevan. |