US Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman, Robert Menendez, has raised a number of issues that need to be addressed in order for Turkey to purchase F-16 aircraft from the US.
In statements to the Athens News Agency – Macedonian Press Agency and to Hellas Journal, Menendez noted that so far he has note seen willingness by Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, do deal with these issues.
“I’ve been very clear about the F-16 as it relates to the sales to Turkey. We sell our military equipment based on standards, not just about profit, standards of those who share our values. And with Turkey, of course, we have a series of issues. From the S-400, to overflights of a neighbor NATO ally in the context of Greece, its engagement on Russia. And on a whole host of questions,” Menendez said in his statement.
“Of course it is the violation of human rights, there are more lawyers and journalists in prison in Turkish jails. And so the list is long. And so it seems to me that in order to achieve the F-16 purchase you are going to have to deal with those issues. If you are willing to deal with those issues, then there is a possibility, but so far I have not seen the willingness of President Ergodan to do that,” he added.
SOURCE: CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY