The… Ankara is turning (at least that’s how it seems) for the acquisition of the modern F-35 fighter from Greece, as reported by Manolis Kostidis, however the irritation over Berlin’s “veto” in Eurofighter procurement is evident…

“The F-35 is not a capability against Turkey in the Aegean. As a member of NATO, we would be happy if Greece got F-35. Also, our own KAAN plane is coming. Furthermore, we do not know where the F-35 issue with the US will lead. Every war means destruction. We don’t want a bad relationship with any of our friends,” Yasar Guler initially stated.

But this, added the Turkish Minister of Defense, it does not mean that we will forget our national interests. There are also things we can agree on. We are now trying to improve the friendship through Trust Building Measures. We don’t necessarily have to do an activity in the Aegean every day.

Eurofighter: The “nein” that irritates

Regarding the Eurofighter procurement, he commented visibly annoyed that “we want to buy such an aircraft (Eurofighter), we said it from the beginning. Our friends the Germans have “scavenged” in some places ‘“we can’t save this, we can’t do the other”… As a member of NATO we cannot accept such a thing from another member of the Alliance. We don’t accept it. and every time we declare it to our friends.”

“Personally, I believe that the issue will be resolved in a short period of time,” Guler added.

Demonstration of intransigence for the Cypriot issue

“Our current position in Cyprus is very positive. There has been peace there for 50 years. The Turkish army went there. In fact, we brought peace to the Greek side. There has been no conflict or war in 50 years,” he declared defiantly.

“Cyprus is our national issue. About Cyprus, federation etc. has passed. We do not accept any solution other than an equal, sovereign implementation of two states” Guler stated adamantly.