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A10 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 13 July 2019

Despite US warnings, Russian S-400 systems land in Turkey

By SUZAN FRASER unloading various military
Associated Press trucks, some of which ap-
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — peared to be carrying parts
The first shipment of a Rus- of the system. The Russian
sian missile defense system Ministry of Defense also
has arrived in Turkey, the shared a video showing the
Turkish Defense Ministry said equipment being loaded
Friday, moving the country onto the planes and then
closer to possible U.S. sanc- being offloaded in Ankara.
tions and a new standoff Turkish media reports have
with Washington. said Turkey is expected to
A Defense Ministry state- take delivery of two S-400
ment said “the first group batteries.
of equipment” of the S-400 Turkey has said it was forced
air defense systems has to buy the S-400s because
reached the Murted Air Washington refused to sup-
Base near the capital, An- ply the American-made
kara. Defense Minister Hu- Patriot systems to Turkey.
lusi Akar said three planes U.S. officials have since en-
carrying the equipment couraged Turkey to buy the
landed at the airfield on Patriot missile defense sys-
Friday, adding that the de- tem instead of the S-400s.
livery would continue in the Turkey has said the offer
coming days. does not meet its require-
The U.S. has strongly urged ments, including possible
NATO member Turkey to future joint production.
pull back from the deal — On Friday, Akar said, how-
reportedly costing more ever, that Turkey was also
than $2 billion — warning Military vehicles and equipment, parts of the S-400 air defense systems, are unloaded from a considering purchasing the
the country that it will face Russian transport aircraft, at Murted military airport in Ankara, Turkey, Friday, July 12, 2019. American system.
economic sanctions under Associated Press “Our talks on the Patriot is-
the Countering America’s first such deal between a nuclear role in NATO for the agreements and con- sue are continuing,” the
Adversaries Through Sanc- Russia and a NATO mem- decades, but this new split tracts signed.” He would state-run Anadolu Agency
tions Act if it goes ahead ber — has also raised con- is likely to cause some in not comment on a time- quoted Akar as saying. “As
with the purchase. It has cerns that Turkey is drifting Washington to question the frame for the delivery but long as they meet the crite-
also said Turkey won’t be closer to Moscow’s sphere wisdom of keeping those insisted that both parties ria, of course we are con-
allowed to participate in of influence. nuclear bombs at Incirlik. are committed to comply- sidering the procurement
the program to produce The acting U.S. secretary of Locations of U.S. nuclear ing with the contract. of the Patriots to cover
high-tech F-35 fighter jets. defense, Mark Esper, said weapons abroad are not Soner Cagaptay, director our need for a long-range
Although U.S. President Washington was aware publicly acknowledged of the Turkish Research Pro- air and missile defense
Donald Trump expressed that Turkey began taking by the U.S. as a matter of gram at The Washington system.” Akar said Turkish
sympathy toward Turkey’s delivery of a Russian-made policy. Institute, said Turkey’s pur- military personnel were be-
decision to purchase the system. Turkey has refused to bow chase of the Russian system ing trained in Russia and in
Russian system during a Esper, who is expected to to U.S. pressure, insisting marks a “tectonic” shift in Turkey on how to install and
meeting with Turkish Presi- be officially nominated that choosing which de- Turkey’s security and for- use the system.
dent Recep Tayyip Erdo- next week to be defense fense equipment to pur- eign policy. The U.S. has already
gan on the sidelines of a secretary, told reporters at chase is a matter of nation- “Unfortunately, it looks like stopped training Turkish pi-
G-20 meeting in Japan, the Pentagon that the U.S. al sovereignty. not only will there be U.S. lots on the F-35, and given
Washington has repeatedly remains unwilling to allow “We’ve always said re- sanctions but also prob- Ankara until the end of July
said that the Russian system Turkey to acquire the U.S. garding the S400s that it’s ably a Turkey-U.S. rupture,” to get its personnel out of
is incompatible with NATO F-35 stealth fighter, as long an agreement that has Cagaptay said. “This is tec- the U.S.
systems and is a threat to as it has the S-400. been finalized and the tonic because a rift with Turkey maintains that it has
the F-35. Esper said he planned to process continues to prog- the United States now — at fulfilled all of its financial
Sanctions would mark a speak to his Turkish counter- ress,” Turkish Foreign Minis- a time when Turkish-EU ties obligations concerning the
new low in the already- part later in the day. ter Mevlut Cavusoglu told are also under strain — F-35 program and can-
tense relations between The prospect of a further reporters. “There’s no prob- which would also impact not be excluded from the
Turkey and the U.S. Last rupture in Turkey’s relations lem and the process will Turkish-NATO ties, would project. Turkey has refused
year, the United States im- with Washington also raises continue in a healthy way leave Turkey alone against to say where it intends to
posed sanctions on Turkey a delicate issue rarely men- going forward.” Russia for the first time in deploy the S-400. Turkish
over its detention of an tioned in public: the status In Russia, Kremlin spokes- nearly 180 years.” media reports have said it
American pastor, triggering of American nuclear weap- man Dmitry Peskov told re- A Turkish Defense Ministry could take until October
a Turkish currency crisis. ons stored at Turkey’s Incir- porters: “Everything is going video showed two planes for the system to be fully
The deal with Russia — the lik air base. Turkey has had strictly in compliance with landing at the air base and operational.q

Somalia extremist attack in port city of Kismayo kills 10

Associated Press of Kismayo. Abdi Ahmed, Hotel between the ex- which is often frequented claimed the responsibility
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) a local district official, told tremist gunmen and secu- by lawmakers and local of- for the attack.
— A Somali official says at The Associated Press Friday rity forces. He said gunfire is ficials. He said the victims The attack started with a
least 10 people have been night that the death toll continuing inside the hotel. include two journalists. suicide car bomb blast and
killed in an extremist attack may rise as fighting is con- He said most of the victims Somalia’s al-Shabab Is- then gunmen stormed into
on a hotel in the port city tinuing inside the Asasey were patrons of the hotel, lamic extremist rebels have the hotel.q