Turkey and Russia said Monday that they had agreed to increase cooperation in the military and defense industry fields, which would help the atmosphere of trust between the two trading partners.
"We have reached agreement to deepen and enhance our cooperation on military and security issues," visiting Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov said at a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Bulent Ecevit.
"Our relations in the defense industry should also be solidified," Kasyanov, on a three-day official visit to Turkey, added.
Ecevit, for his part, underlined that Turkey was "ready and willing" to establish a more active cooperation in the defense industry.
"In this way, we can install an atmosphere of trust and become partners rather than competitors," the Turkish prime minister said.
Russia, one of Turkey's biggest trading partners, is bidding in a Turkish tender, estimated at some four billion dollars, for the purchase of 145 combat helicopters.
Ankara said in July that it would start talks with US firm Bell-Textron for a possible contract and underlined that if the two sides failed to reach a deal, it would begin negotiations with a consortium formed by Russia's Kamov and Israeli Aircraft Industries.
In response to a question, Kasyanov said that his country's technology was superior than its competitor for the lucrative project.
"But of course, the decision belongs to Turkey," he added.
Ecevit noted that Turkey was evaluating the issues from a "purely technical and financial point" and had not reached a final decision yet.
A source close to the Turkish prime minister's office said that the two countries had agreed to set up a special commission on military technology to seek means to develop some arms projects -- ANKARA (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
