Anti-NATO radar demo held in eastern Turkey – Tehran Times

Saturday’s protest was organized by a group named “Ankara Unity against NATO and Missile Shield,” which says it wants to inform the Turkish nation about the ‘true purposes’ behind the system, Press TV reported.

Turkey will install the U.S.-made radar in the Kurecik district of the eastern province of Malatya as part of a NATO missile system.

Kurecik is located 700 kilometers from the Iranian border.

The protesters called on Ankara to adopt independent policies and stop taking measures that would serve the interests of certain Western countries. The protesters claimed that some Western powers, led by Washington, plan to wage a war on Syria, and called on Ankara to avoid lending any support to the plot.

Turkish activists have held several similar protests to voice their opposition to the radar system, saying the station will be of no benefit to Turkey and will even endanger the country’s interests.

The protest rallies were triggered after the government officially declared in last September that it had struck a deal with NATO to host the radar station.

Observers say Turkey’s agreement to the installment of the NATO missile system and its harsh stance toward Syria is among the most controversial moves taken by the Turkish government over the past year.

Turkish activists have held many demonstrations across the country since Ankara expressed readiness to host the NATO missile system in the eastern province of Malatya in September.

Some leading Turkish politicians and lawmakers have warned that the system, which reportedly became operational earlier this year, will provide no benefit to Turkey but will only serve Israel’s interests.

In September, Ankara announced that it had agreed to allow the deployment of the X-Band radar system, developed by the United States for NATO, on its territory.

via Anti-NATO radar demo held in eastern Turkey – Tehran Times.