Turkish foreign minister accuses Iranian officials of launching a misinformation campaign on Turkish public over deployment of Patriots on Turkish soil. Ankara warned Tehran over the issue, Davuto?lu also saysIranian officials might have aimed to launch a campaign of misinformation among the Turkish public by abusing the issue of Patriot deployment in Turkish territory, Foreign MinisterAhmet Davuto?lusaid in a televised interview Dec. 28.
Turkey warned Tehran over recent remarks by Iranian officials that were highly critical ofTurkeybecause of NATOs planned deployment of Patriots, he said. Iranian sides statements [on the Patriots] might have stemmed from two reasons. First one is a lack of information; but this cannot be the reason because we informed them. The second one is leading to misunderstandings among the Turkish public opinion by exploitation of such an issue. We warned our Iranian counterparts on this issue, Davuto?lu said.
The minister once more reiterated that those systems would not pose a threat toIranand they would leave the country after the security risk againstTurkeydisappeared. Planned deployment of Patriot missiles inTurkeyis a provocative action which could bring about uncalculated results, Irans foreign minister said Dec. 16, soon after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad canceled a visit to Turkey.
Ready to defend: Official
The deployment of Patriot missiles will achieve nothing but to provoke and, God forbid, result in being forced into an uncalculated action, Ali Akbar Salehi said in remarks reported by the official IRNA news agency.
Speaking on the issue, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast saidTurkeyshould understand the reasons of Irans concerns on Patriots.
The West says military options againstIranon the table. We advise them not to attack us. We are ready to defend our soil, the spokesman told a group of reporters inIstanbulat the Iranian Consulate. Davuto?lu also strictly dismissed allegations thatNATOapproved deployment of Patriot systems in return to Turkeys easing of its blockade toIsraelfor partnership activities of the Alliance.
The Alliance has been in talks for the last two years to find a formula over the deadlock as some members ofNATOblocked partnership activities with Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan and countries in the Balkans and Caucasus over Turkeys veto on Israel, he said.
The main opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP) indicated Dec. 24 that U.S. pressure might be behind Turkeys partial lift of its veto on Israels participation inNATOpartnership programs.CHPDeputy Chair Faruk Lo?o?lu, a former undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry, recalled that Israeli media had claimed Turkeys partial lifting of its veto had come as Turkeys requestNATOstation Patriot missile batteries along its border with Syria was granted.
Patriots have noting to do with that, Davuto?lu said, adding that the owners of that claim were manipulating [information] to cast a shadow on Turkeys diplomatic victory.
By Hurriyet Daily News
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