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A10 WORLD NEWS
Friday 19 July 2019

Turkey calls on US to reverse decision on F-35 exclusion

By SUZAN FRASER Lord, the Pentagon’s chief
Associated Press weapons buyer, told a
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — The news conference that the
U.S. decision to exclude Tur- U.S. has suspended Turkey
key from an American-led from the F-35 program and
fighter jet program goes is beginning the process of
against the “spirit of alli- its formal removal.
ance,” the Turkish govern- The U.S. government is
ment said Thursday, and concerned that the S-400
called on its NATO ally to could be used to gather
reverse the decision. data on the capabilities of
In a major break with a the F-35, and that the in-
longtime ally, U.S. President formation could end up in
Donald Trump’s administra- Russian hands.
tion on Wednesday said Turkey has called for the
Turkey is being kicked out establishment of a com-
of the F-35 program be- mittee that would include
cause it is buying the Rus- NATO officials to study the
sian S-400 air defense sys- risks. Turkey refused to bow
tem. Washington says the to U.S. pressure to cancel
S-400 would compromise the S-400 agreement with
the F-35 program and aid Russia, saying the deal is a
Russian intelligence. matter of national sover-
In a statement, Turkey’s For- In this March 29, 2019, photo, a U.S. F-35A fighter jet prepares to land at Chungju Air Base in eignty and that the agree-
eign Ministry rejected that Chungju, South Korea. ment was a done deal.
assertion. Associated Press Erdogan has said his gov-
“This unilateral step is in- come back from this mis- key’s unease over the U.S. statement. Turkey began ernment hopes to co-pro-
compatible with the spirit take that will cause irrepa- decision, according to a taking delivery of compo- duce high-tech weaponry
of alliance and is not based rable damage to our stra- statement from Erdogan’s nents of the Russian system systems with Russia in the
on any legitimate justifi- tegic ties.” office. last week. A Russian cargo future, further defying the
cation,” the ministry said. On Thursday, Turkish Presi- During the call, Kalin said plane carrying more parts U.S. and other NATO allies.
“Not only is it unfair to keep dent Recep Tayyip Erdo- “one-sided impositions” of the system landed at an On Thursday, the head of
Turkey out of a program gan’s spokesman, Ibrahim would prevent the healthy air base near Ankara for Russia’s state-controlled
of which it is a partner but Kalin, held a telephone progress of Turkish-U.S. ties. a seventh day running on Rostech corporation said
the claim that the S-400 will conversation with White Despite the tensions, the Thursday. Erdogan has said Moscow would be willing
weaken the F-35 is invalid.” House national security ad- two also discussed a pos- the system will be fully op- to sell Turkey its Su-35 fight-
The ministry said: “We call viser John Bolton, during sible date for Trump to visit erational by April. er jets if Ankara “expresses
on the United States to which he expressed Tur- Turkey, according to the On Wednesday, Ellen interest.”q

Scuffles near Lebanon parliament

before vote on budget

traffic in the already heav-
ily cordoned off area out-
side parliament.
The protesters had been
camped outside parlia-
ment for three days when
the draft bill returned to the
128-member parliament
and members began their
final discussion on whether
to ratify the bill.
After the protests, the par-
liament speaker adjourned
the evening session and
postponed the vote until
Friday.
A Lebanese retired soldier waves the army flag, as he protests in The austerity budget is de-
front of burning tires, at a road linking to the parliament building signed to avert a financial
where lawmakers and ministers are discussing the draft 2019 crisis in heavily indebted
state budget, in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, July 18, 2019. Lebanon. But it has fall-
Associated Press en short of expectations
By FADI AL-TAWIL ahead of a final vote on a among many lawmakers
Associated Press controversial austerity bud- and the public who said it
BEIRUT (AP) — Dozens of get. mainly focused on reduc-
protesters scuffled with The protesters, most of ing public spending and
Lebanese security forces them army veterans, were raising taxes instead of
guarding the country’s pushed back and moved tackling structural reforms,
parliament Thursday just as down the road, where they issues of governance and
lawmakers were meeting burned tires and blocked corruption. q