  Turkey threatens to frustrate $4 billion defense deal with France January 21, 2012 - 14:54 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey’s defense industry business with France will be badly affected if French Senate approves the bill criminalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide, Turkish procurement officials threatened. According to Hurriyet Daily News, it will affect a nearly $4 billion program to buy long-range missile and air defense systems. For this contract the pan-European Eurosam, maker of the SAMP/T Aster 30, is competing with a U.S. partnership between Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, maker of Patriot air defense systems, Russia’s Rosoboronexport, marketing the S300, and China’s CPMIEC (China Precision Machinery Export-Import Corp.), offering its HQ-9. Turkey’s top decision-making body on defense procurement is expected to select a winner this summer. Eurosam is owned by MBDA of Italy, MBDA of France and France’s Thales group. As a result French companies have a nearly two-thirds stake in Europe’s top anti-missile maker. Italy is currently dealing with the Turkish government on this program, making use of its excellent defense ties with Ankara, but the large French presence is key, Turkish officials say. “France can forget about this project if the bill passes. I agree with the view that this would be very good news for the Americans,” a senior Turkish procurement official said. NATO officials earlier warned Turkey against selecting the Russian or Chinese options because of security concerns.   Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says.   Partner news |  Topic Latest news Seven injured in massive gas station explosion in Armenia  The Investigative Committee of Armenia has unveiled details about a massive explosion at a gas station on the Yerevan-Sevan highway.Pashinyan’s spokesperson denies intention to visit Baku for COP29 Pashinyan’s agenda doesn’t include a trip to Baku for the COP29 conference, his press secretary Nazeli Baghdasaryan has said.Russia accuses West of preparing invasion of CSTO countries NATO is preparing an invasion of the CSTO countries, the number of provocations in the air is growing, Sergei Shoigu has said.Lithuania sending €100,000 to help Armenia fight floods consequences Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to social media to thank his Lithuanian counterpart for the contribution. |
