World
Russia Reiterates Concern Over NATO Missiles in Turkey
Topic: Deployment of Patriot missiles in Turkey
Patriot anti-missile batteries
© AFP 2013/ MEHDI FEDOUACHRelated News
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MOSCOW, November 23 (RIA Novosti) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated on Friday Moscow’s concern over the possible deployment of US Patriot air defense systems in Turkey.
Turkey, a NATO member, has requested the deployment of Patriot missiles on its territory, saying the missile system is necessary to protect its 900-km border with conflict-torn Syria.
“Sergei Lavrov has reiterated Russia’s concern over [NATO] plans to boost its military capability in the region, and reaffirmed the need for direct dialogue between Ankara and Damascus in order to avoid incidents,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said following a phone conversation between Lavrov and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
Rasmussen, who earlier stated that the deployment of Patriot missiles would “contribute to the de-escalation of the crisis along NATO’s south-eastern border,” reassured Lavrov that the missiles would be placed for defensive purposes only.
US Patriot surface-to-air missiles were last deployed to Turkey in 1991 and 2003, during the two Gulf Wars, to protect the country from Saddam Hussein’s Scud missiles.
Turkey has opened fire several times in recent weeks across its border with Syria in retaliation for Syrian shelling, which killed five Turkish civilians in October. It has also provided shelter to refugees fleeing the violence in Syria and has been one of President Bashar al-Assad’s harshest critics during the almost 17-month revolt against his rule.
Tensions between Turkey and Syria flared dangerously this summer after Damascus shot down a Turkish fighter that had violated its airspace. Turkey threatened retaliation if there was any repeat of the incident, although it admitted the plane had mistakenly strayed slightly into Syria.
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- mishkaWhy do they do such acts if they afraid so much?01:29, 24/11/2012I am Turkish and live in Turkey. I feel shame for my goverment's policies. REcent Turkish goverment have an image of conduct hostile acts to all it's neighbors. It has had unnecessary international and domestic problems with everybody and started to afraid of existing risks of their own politics now. They created almost all the problems, disputes and conflicts themselves. They continue to create enemies by supporting rebels for regime exporting attempts, ruins and unrests in sovereign countries and then call the "father" America and NATO for help. Perhaps they just charged it with such a duty but it just seems funny to volunteer for taking chesnuts from the fire and to cry for a help.
Correctly, Russia has concerns about Patriots and militarization a conflict hit area. More weapons means more potencial and risk f armed conflictions. The area needs demilitarization and purification from arms now. Turkey provides Syrian arms to be fired by supporting and encouraging rebels and supplies political, logistic and allegedly military backing them for riots in the neighbor. BEcause of this, it can not be so convincing when it says it s in danger and asks for help by anti air missiles. Perhaps Russia considers deployment of Patriot missiles is just the last preparing and last step just before a Turkish or NATO offence against Syria. Syrian missiles and air force capacity is the only one guarranty to counterbalance Turkish aggression and it will be eleminated by Patriots now. And it s very normal if Russia cares and interferes in such a risk as a UNSC member and premier country of international community.- mrgeniePatriot can not be a step for NATO operations08:35, 25/11/2012Those batteries are only against ballastic and airforce. Turkey is capable of handling the airforce themself. Syria has only Soviet weaponry which is no match for the Turks if they want to. Even without NATO help.
Against Grenates and other shot range weapons(the one Assad is using against Turkey, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, etc) you don't get any help from Patriot batteries. For such weapons only the Israeli Iron Dome would be sufficient.
I think, this is more or less only political, to let Assad know:"don't let this escalate, we're not alone"
Apart from that, Assad is attacking several countries, he has no right to do so. For much less Russia attacked Georgia. According the Russia, Turkey already should have invaded Syria a dozen of times by all the border violations. So, be glad Turkey is more mature then Russian politics.
Maybe Erdogan understood he did mistakes in the past.. Supporting groups in public too loud. Thinking Turkey is the fourth Reich. And now he understood:"ok, we went too far, but to avoid escalation now, let's use the same tactics that prevented WWIII between soviets and NATO" and to prevent that, the "threath" is the best option on the table to avoid escalation. Sad, but that's how politics work. And has nothing to do with Turkey, Syria, Russia, USA or any other nation. That's simply the sad thing of human psychology.
