From: Press Agency Ozgurluk <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2001 00:58:03 +0200
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [Ozgurluk] Turkey - economical crisis: $1 bln defence deal with
South Korea
23 July 2001, Copyright � Turkish Daily News
Turkey and South Korea sign a $1 billion agreement for the
coproduction of howitzers under a 10-year agreement marking Ankara's
further determination to diversify its arms suppliers in reaction to
restrictions imposed by some allies due to its bad human rights record
Turkey signs a record $1 bln defence deal with South Korea
* Turkey in deep economic crisis but signs $1 bln defence deal
* with South Korea
Turkey and South Korea signed in Seoul on July 20 a record $1 billion
defence deal for the procurement of howitzers, marking Turkey's
determination for diversifying its arms suppliers in the face of
ongoing restrictions imposed by some of its allies over technology
transfers due to Ankara's bad human rights record. The Ankara-Seoul
deal had became possible when Germany earlier refused to transfer
technology to Turkey required for howitzers. As Turkey has been going
through a deep economic crisis, it remains unclear how this $1 billion
defence deal would be financed.
South Korea's "Korea Herald" ran a story on July 21, reporting that
South Korea's Samsung Techwin would supply howitzer components to
Turkey in the $1 billion deal.
The paper quoted the South Korean Defence Ministry as saying that
Samsung Techwin signed a contract yesterday (July 21) to supply about
$60 million worth of components for about twenty 155 mm self-propelled
howitzers to Turkey over the next two years.
The two-year pact was signed between officials of the Samsung Techwin
and the Turkish Land Forces Command (KKK) at the Shilla Hotel in
downtown Seoul.
The deal is the first part of a 10-year agreement under which the
Korean firm will supply components for more than 300 howitzers.
The total export value is estimated at more than $1 billion, a record
high for a Korean overseas shipment of a single defense item, ministry
officials said.
The South Korean and Turkish militaries signed a memorandum of
understanding on the transaction in May last year.
"The contract bears a great significance in that it is the first time
that South Korea has struck a deal on the export of defense industry
technology to a foreign country," said Woo Kook-Seok, director of the
ministry's International Cooperation Division.
Woo said the deal would greatly help enhance the international
community's confidence in South Korean technology for the 155 mm K-9
self-propelled howitzers. South Korea developed the weapon between
1989 and 1998.
Fourteen local defense-related firms, including the Agency for Defense
Development and Samsung Techwin, participated in the development of
the K-9 howitzers, which has a maximum range of 40 kilometers.
"We also expect to launch other cooperation programs with Turkey,
including those on 155 mm long-range ammunitions and munition supply
vehicles," Woo said.
Turkey has developed its own self-propelled howitzers on the basis of
the Korean model. Turkey will use South Korean-supplied parts to
produce the howitzers.
South Korean defense exports amounted to $55.37 million last year,
compared with $196.6 million in 1999 and $147.2 million in 1998,
according to the ministry. Ankara - Turkish Daily News
---
Press Agency Ozgurluk
In Support of the Revolutionary Peoples Liberation Struggle in Turkey
http://www.ozgurluk.org
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