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Interfax, Russia
January 21, 2013 Monday 4:58 PM MSK
Turkey's Patriot missiles targeted against Russia - expert
MOSCOW. Jan 21
The deployment of U.S. Patriot surface-to-air missile systems in
southern Turkey is targeted against Russia's allies in the
Commonwealth of Independent States and the Collective Security Treaty
Organization rather than possible missile attacks from Syria, said
former Russian Air Force commander, General of the Army Anatoly
Kornukov.
"They are actually targeted against the CIS and the CSTO and, for that
matter, against Russia," Kornukov told Interfax on Monday.
"I understand this step has been made against us, rather than Syria.
The border is near. Azerbaijan is an ally to Turkey. Armenia is easily
reachable for attacks if they deploy the systems on the border in the
mountains," he said.
It emerged earlier on Monday that Patriot missiles had been delivered
to Turkey from Germany and Holland. Some 240 German soldiers arrived
at Incirlik military base to service the German Patriot missiles.
Patriot missiles have been deployed at Ankara's request in southern
Turkey which are seen as a shield against possible Syrian missile
attacks. Six Patriot batteries are expected to be located in Turkey.
The United States, Germany and Holland are expected to provide two
batteries each. The Patriot systems are expected to become combat
ready in early February.
Kornukov said the Patriots being deployed in Turkey have a range of
just 75 kilometers. "Only the border zone will be covered. Nothing
else. Tactically, they will not solve the problem. If anything flies
into their zone, they will definitely bring the intruder down. But if
the place of deployment and the zone of coverage are known,
destruction may be dodged. It is a moral factor rather than anything
else," Kornukov said.
Sd rb
January 21, 2013 Monday 4:58 PM MSK
Turkey's Patriot missiles targeted against Russia - expert
MOSCOW. Jan 21
The deployment of U.S. Patriot surface-to-air missile systems in
southern Turkey is targeted against Russia's allies in the
Commonwealth of Independent States and the Collective Security Treaty
Organization rather than possible missile attacks from Syria, said
former Russian Air Force commander, General of the Army Anatoly
Kornukov.
"They are actually targeted against the CIS and the CSTO and, for that
matter, against Russia," Kornukov told Interfax on Monday.
"I understand this step has been made against us, rather than Syria.
The border is near. Azerbaijan is an ally to Turkey. Armenia is easily
reachable for attacks if they deploy the systems on the border in the
mountains," he said.
It emerged earlier on Monday that Patriot missiles had been delivered
to Turkey from Germany and Holland. Some 240 German soldiers arrived
at Incirlik military base to service the German Patriot missiles.
Patriot missiles have been deployed at Ankara's request in southern
Turkey which are seen as a shield against possible Syrian missile
attacks. Six Patriot batteries are expected to be located in Turkey.
The United States, Germany and Holland are expected to provide two
batteries each. The Patriot systems are expected to become combat
ready in early February.
Kornukov said the Patriots being deployed in Turkey have a range of
just 75 kilometers. "Only the border zone will be covered. Nothing
else. Tactically, they will not solve the problem. If anything flies
into their zone, they will definitely bring the intruder down. But if
the place of deployment and the zone of coverage are known,
destruction may be dodged. It is a moral factor rather than anything
else," Kornukov said.
Sd rb