'NATO's MDS in Turkey not aimed to protect Israel'

European missile defense system at the Kurecik base near the Turkish city of Malatya is not designed to protect Israel, Turkish President Abdullah Gul said in an interview with the Tunisian official TV channel.

"All the statements that the European missile defense system in Turkey is aimed at protecting Israel, are the black propaganda of Tel Aviv," President Gul said.

He said Israel is not a NATO member, so the protection of this country by NATO missile defense system is impossible, even by the system located in Turkey.

Simultaneously, President Gul stressed that the missile defense system in Kurecik is not also directed against Iran.

A decision on the placement of the European defense system elements in Turkey was made at the NATO summit in Lisbon last year. Turkey initially supported this initiative.

An agreement on the placement of the European missile defense radar at Kurecik military base was signed by Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioglu and U.S. Ambassador to Ankara in September, 2011.

Tehran has repeatedly expressed its concern over this decision to Ankara.

"Such a move will be in favor of Israel and other foreign forces in the region," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said commenting on this issue.


/Trend/