Turkey said Israel would send the remaining Heron unmanned surveillance aircrafts as agreed.

"Acting in accordance with the national interests of Turkey constituted the basis of bilateral military relations between Turkey and other countries", an executive from the Turkish General Staff said on Friday over Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's walkout in Davos after the debate with Israeli President Peres.

General Staff Communication Department Chief Gen. Metin Gurak held a weekly press conference at the General Staff HQ in Ankara.

Replying to a question on delivery of Israel's Heron unmanned surveillance aircraft to Turkey, Gen. Gurak said the Turkish national defense minister made a statement on the matter and there was not any problem regarding the project.

Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said, "our agreement to jointly produce Herons is still in force. They (Israel) sent two of the aircraft late December. There is a little bit delay but I think they will send remaining eight aircraft until the end of April."

Each Heron unmanned surveillance aircraft costs Turkey 18 million USD.


Erdogan walked off stage at a panel discussion on Gaza at the World Economic Forum after tension were heightened between the Turkish premier and Israeli President Shimon Peres.

Erdogan declared to the Israeli president: "Your voice is high and I know it is because of a psychology of guilt. When it comes to killing, you know very well how to kill. I know very well how you hit and killed children at the beaches."

Erdogan said that "You have prime ministers who had said they felt quite happy when they entered in Palestine on tanks."

Erdogan also lashed out at the audience who applauded Peres after his speech: "I also condemn those people who applaud this cruelty. I believe that applauding the people who killed children is a crime against humanity."

Agencies