Turkish opposition censures government

Sun Sep 11, 2011

Two main opposition parties in Turkey have criticized the government over its decision about hosting a NATO missile defense system.

The Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) accused the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of “protecting the interests of other countries rather than the national interests,” according to a report by Turkish Sunday's Zaman newspaper on Sunday.

NATO claims that the radar component of the missile system will be used against “missile threats from Iran.”

“The government has to explain to us where the threat is coming from and the necessity of such an involvement in the missile defense system. Both NATO and the US sources are saying that the system is being formed in response to threats from Iran. Unfortunately, the government is not giving us any explanation on these issues,” said Oktay Vural of the MHP.

“This system is directly designed as a shield against missile systems targeting Israel. Taking this step without informing the public sufficiently shows that Turkey's foreign policy is now not centered in Ankara but instead the government is assuming a foreign policy based on international interests,” Vural added.

Vural went on to say that the move “is related to Washington's interests rather than Turkey's security and that this step is being taken in line with Israeli demands.”

CHP parliamentary group deputy chairman, Muharrem Ince, also said the ruling Justice and Development Party is “a party which on the one hand threatens Israel, while on the other protects Israel.”

Ties between Ankara and Tel Aviv frayed after the Israelis attacked a Turkish-flagged Gaza-bound aid convoy in international waters in 2010 which left nine Turkish activists dead and many others wounded.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.com/detail/198591.html.