2012 Turkey Special Weapons News

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

December

• NATO Foreign Ministers’ statement on Patriot deployment to Turkey NATO 04 Dec 2012
• NATO agrees to augment Turkey’s air-defence capabilities NATO 04 Dec 2012 -- NATO ministers of foreign affairs agreed to augment Turkey’s air defence capabilities by deploying Patriot missiles at a meeting in Brussels.
• NATO Approves Turkey’s Request for Patriot Missiles AFPS 04 Dec 2012 -- NATO foreign ministers have agreed to Turkey’s request for Patriot anti-missile batteries to defend the country against possible airstrikes from neighboring Syria.
• NATO to Deploy Defensive Missiles to Turkey VOA 04 Dec 2012 -- NATO has authorized the deployment of a missile defense system to Turkey in response to the continuing violence in Syria and concern its government might resort to using chemical weapons.
• NATO Approves Deployment of Patriot Missiles in Turkey RIA Novosti 04 Dec 2012 -- NATO allies approved the deployment of Patriot air defense systems in Turkey along the border with Syria, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said.
• Russia Respects Turkey’s Right to Self-Defense: Lavrov RIA Novosti 04 Dec 2012 -- Moscow is not attempting to prevent Turkey from realizing its right to self-defense by opposing the deployment of Patriot missiles along the border with Syria, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
• NATO: Syria Chemical Weapons Warrant Immediate International Reaction VOA 04 Dec 2012 -- The NATO secretary-general says the alliance will authorize the deployment of a missile defense system to Turkey "within weeks."
• Rasmussen Expects NATO To Back Turkish Request For Missiles RFE/RL 04 Dec 2012 -- NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says he is confident the alliance will approve Turkey's request for the deployment of surface-to-air missiles.
• Turkey Committed to Stamping Out Corruption, Despite Criticism VOA 04 Dec 2012 -- Turkey has in the past faced criticism for corruption, but the government claims it is committed to stamping it out.
• NATO to Discuss Anti-Missile System for Turkey VOA 03 Dec 2012 -- NATO foreign ministers will discuss sending a missile defense system to Turkey in response to the continuing violence in Syria.
• NATO Experts Select Patriot Missile Sites in Turkey RIA Novosti 03 Dec 2012 -- NATO military experts have selected sites for the deployment of at least three Patriot air defense systems along Turkey's border with Syria.
• Russian President In Turkey For Talks On Syria, Business RFE/RL 03 Dec 2012 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul to discuss the conflict in Syria, as well as ways to boost Turkish-Russian business cooperation.

November

• Statement by the NATO Secretary General on Patriot Missile Deployment to Turkey NATO 21 Nov 2012
• U.S., NATO Consider Turkey Request for Missile Support AFPS 21 Nov 2012 -- The U.S. will work closely with its NATO allies to determine the best way to respond to a recent request from Turkey for Patriot missile support.
• Turkey Asks NATO For Missile Defense Against Syria RFE/RL 21 Nov 2012 -- Turkey has asked NATO to deploy Patriot air-defense missiles on its territory.
• NATO Secretary General comments on Turkey and the Middle East NATO 19 Nov 2012
• NATO Ready to Protect Turkey from Syrian Missiles VOA 19 Nov 2012 -- NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen says the alliance would consider a request from Turkey to deploy Patriot anti-missile batteries along its border with Syria.
• U.S. Purpose of Introducing Nukes into Turkey Disclosed KCNA 07 Nov 2012 -- Recently the U.S. stockpiled about 70 B-61 nuclear bombs in a U.S. air force base in Turkey.
• Turkey Starts Trial Against Israelis Involved in 2010 Raid VOA 06 Nov 2012 -- A trial began in Turkey against four Israeli military commanders accused of leading a raid on the high seas against a Gaza-bound aid ship.
• Turkey Opens Trial Of Israelis In Gaza Flotilla Case RFE/RL 06 Nov 2012 -- A Turkish court has opened the trial in absentia of four former Israeli military commanders charged with killing nine people aboard a Turkish aid ship.
• Turkey: ‘No Plans’ to Build Nuclear Plant on Bulgaria Border RIA Novosti 05 Nov 2012 -- Turkey has no plans to build a nuclear power plant several kilometers away from its border with Bulgaria, a Bulgarian official said.

October

• Merkel Reassures Turkey On EU Talks RFE/RL 31 Oct 2012 -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel says the European Union is being "an honest negotiating partner" in accession talks with Turkey, despite persistent disagreements.
• German Call For New EU-Turkey Talks RFE/RL 31 Oct 2012 -- German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle has called for the revival of stalled talks on Turkey joining the European Union.
• Turkish Government Allows Kurdish Language Classes VOA 30 Oct 2012 -- Years of Turkish state policies of assimilation have put the Kurdish language under threat.
• Iraq Seeks End To Turkish Presence In North RFE/RL 02 Oct 2012 -- Iraq's government says it rejects the presence of foreign bases on Iraqi soil and will oppose any foreign military forces that enter Iraq to chase rebels.

September

• Hundreds Convicted for Turkey Plot VOA 21 Sep 2012 -- A court in Istanbul has convicted dozens of former armed forces members of attempting to overthrow Turkey's Islamic-based government.
• Turkish Court Convicts More Than 300 Officers Over Coup Plot RFE/RL 21 Sep 2012 -- A Turkish court has convicted about 330 military officers on charges of plotting to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
• HRW Report Calls for Turkey to End Impunity for State Killings VOA 03 Sep 2012 -- U.S.-based Human Rights Watch is calling for Turkey's government to hold to account those responsible for serious human-rights violations.

August

• Debate Continues in Turkey Over Syria, Regional Standing VOA 29 Aug 2012 -- Turkey is not sending top officials to this week's Non-Aligned Movement summit conference in Tehran, where Syria's conflict is likely to be a main topic.
• Turkish Opposition Says Government Ignoring Presence of al-Qaida VOA 24 Aug 2012 -- Turkish political opposition members are claiming that Turkish authorities are turning a blind eye to Islamic militants based in Turkey who are crossing over the border to join the opposition fighting the Assad government in Syria.
• Turkish Authorities Disprove Plane Shot Down by Syria RIA Novosti 10 Aug 2012 -- An investigation by Turkish authorities found no evidence that the Turkish reconnaissance aircraft that crashed on June 22 was shot down by Syrian air defense.
• UN refugee agency reports increase in number of people fleeing violence in Syria UN News Centre 10 Aug 2012 -- The United Nations refugee agency today said that its offices in Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan and Iraq have reported increases this week in the number of refugees from Syria.
• Kurdish Gains in Syria Rattle Turkey VOA 06 Aug 2012 -- Kurds in the north of Syria say they have taken control of most of the region's major towns and cities from government forces.

July

• Moves by Syrian Kurds Worry Turkey VOA 25 Jul 2012 -- In Syria, the seizing of control by Syrian Kurds of towns close to the Turkish border has raised concerns in the Turkish capital, Ankara.
• Turkish Army's Economic Might Under Growing Scrutiny VOA 24 Jul 2012 -- Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party has forced the country’s once all-powerful army firmly back into the barracks and out of political life.

June

• Turkey Continues Pursuit of EU Membership VOA 07 Jun 2012 -- Leading EU officials have met with their Turkish counterparts in Istanbul in the latest effort to re-energize Turkey's faltering membership bid.
• Turkey's Political Leaders Discuss How to End Kurdish Insurgency VOA 06 Jun 2012 -- How to resolve a more than three-decade Kurdish insurgency in Turkey was the topic of a rare meeting between the country's prime minister and main opposition political leader.

May

April

• Leaders of Turkey's 1980 Coup on Trial in Ankara VOA 04 Apr 2012 -- Two surviving leaders of Turkey's 1980 coup have gone on trial in Ankara.
• Elderly Turkish Coup Leaders Face Trial VOA 04 Apr 2012 -- Retired Turkish generals Kenan Evren and Thasin Sahinkaya are on trial, more than three decades after leading a coup.
• Turkey's 1980 Military Coup Leaders Go On Trial RFE/RL 04 Apr 2012 -- The two surviving leaders of Turkey's 1980 military coup have gone on trial in the country's capital Ankara.

March

• Turkey, Azerbaijan Increase Cooperation VOA 21 Mar 2012 -- Turkey and its neighbor, Azerbaijan, are increasing diplomatic and economic cooperation following the collapse of rapprochement efforts between Turkey and Azerbaijan's rival, Armenia.
• U.S. Senate to Debate Armenian Genocide Resolution RIA Novosti 21 Mar 2012 -- Two U.S. Senators have introduced a bill calling on the US government to recognize the Armenian genocide by the Ottoman Empire in 1915-23.
• Bomb Explodes in Central Istanbul VOA 01 Mar 2012 -- Sixteen people have been injured by a bomb explosion in central Istanbul.
• In Istanbul, Blast Near Ruling Party's Offices Injures 10 RFE/RL 01 Mar 2012 -- Turkish police say a bomb blast has injured at least 10 people close to the Istanbul headquarters of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party.

February

• French Court Overturns French Genocide Denial Law; Turkey Welcomes Ruling RFE/RL 28 Feb 2012 -- France's Constitutional Council has ruled that a law concerning the mass killings of Armenians a century ago violates the country's constitution.
• Turkey Seeks to Be International Mediation Center VOA 27 Feb 2012 -- The Turkish foreign minister is seeking to make Istanbul a center for mediation in resolving international crises.
• NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen: "New NATO – New Turkey" NATO 17 Feb 2012
• Turkey Pledges No Third Country Use of NATO Defenses VOA 17 Feb 2012 -- Davutoglu said Turkey "will never allow any third country to use any NATO facility."
• Thousands in Turkey Held Without Trial: Rights Groups VOA 17 Feb 2012 -- Human right activists in Turkey charge that thousands of political activists and over 100 journalists in the country have been imprisoned.
• Dozens Arrested in Turkey Anti-terror Probe VOA 13 Feb 2012 -- Turkish police have arrested about 100 people in a new nationwide operation targeting union leaders and activists because of alleged links to Kurdish rebels.
• Turkish Police Target Alleged PKK Backers VOA 13 Feb 2012 -- Turkish news reports say police have launched a nationwide crackdown on union leaders and activists with alleged links to an outlawed Kurdish rebel group in the country's southeast.
• Turkey Arrests Scores Over Suspected Kurdish Rebel Links RFE/RL 13 Feb 2012 -- Turkish police have reportedly detained some 100 people in a nationwide crackdown on alleged supporters of Kurdish rebels.
• Turkish Warplanes Strike Suspected PKK Targets In Northern Iraq RFE/RL 12 Feb 2012 -- Turkey's military says warplanes have bombed suspected Kurdish rebel targets in northern Iraq.
• Turkey Tries to Navigate Sectarian Divides in Middle East VOA 03 Feb 2012 -- As Turkey increasingly tries to play the role of broker in Mideast diplomacy, there are concerns its conservative Muslim prime minister is pursuing a religious agenda.
• Turkey Seeks Life Sentence for Ex-Military Chief VOA 02 Feb 2012 -- Turkish prosecutors are seeking life imprisonment for a former army chief in an alleged plot to topple the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

January

• Turkey Reacts To Rick Perry's 'Terrorist' Accusation RFE/RL 17 Jan 2012 -- Turkey's government expressed outrage at comments by US Republican presidential hopeful Rick Perry, who suggested the country is ruled by Islamic terrorists.
• Two Leaders of Turkey's 1980 Coup Indicted VOA 10 Jan 2012 -- In Turkey, the two surviving leaders of a 1980 military coup have been charged with crimes against the state. The move is seen by many as an important step in the country facing up to its dark past of military rule.
• Former Turkish President Charged in Military Coup VOA 10 Jan 2012 -- A Turkish court has approved the indictment for 'crimes against the state' of a former Turkish president who came to power in a military coup.
• Turkey's Ex-Military Chief Arrested VOA 06 Jan 2012 -- Turkey's former army chief was arrested on Friday over an alleged plot to topple the government of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
• Former Turkish General Jailed Until Trial RFE/RL 06 Jan 2012 -- A Turkish ex-general has been remanded in custody until his trial for being part of an alleged plot to overthrow the government.
• Turkish Prosecutor Calls for Arrest of Retired Armed Forces Chief VOA 05 Jan 2012 -- A Turkish prosecutor has called for a former chief of the armed forces to be taken into custody over alleged involvement in a scheme to discredit the government.
• Turkey to Broach Kurdistan Issue in Tehran VOA 04 Jan 2012 -- Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is in Iran for talks that are expected to address the burgeoning political crisis in neighboring Iraq.
• Reports: France To Speed Up Vote On Armenian Genocide Bill RFE/RL 04 Jan 2012 -- French media reports say France's upper house of parliament will vote this month on a bill to criminalize the denial of an Armenian genocide, at the risk of incurring further sanctions from Turkey.
• Turkish Ex-Military Chief Suspect in Anti-Government Case VOA 03 Jan 2012 -- Turkish media reports say prosecutors have named a former chief of Turkey's military as a suspect in an Internet campaign aimed at destabilizing the country's Islamic-based government.