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Turkey has no reasons to reject purchase of S-400s, says lawmaker

In early May, media reported, citing Turkish diplomatic circles, that Turkey’s authorities plan to revisit the decision to purchase S-400s from Russia due to deterioration of the economic situation

S-400 anti-aircraft missile system Sergei Malgavko/TASS

S-400 anti-aircraft missile system

© Sergei Malgavko/TASS

MOSCOW, May 14. /TASS/. Turkey is closely linked to Russia in the military and economic spheres and has no reasons to renounces the purchase of S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems, Chairman of the State Duma’s Committee for Defense and former Commander of the Airborne Force Vladimir Shamanov said on Tuesday in a conversation with reporters.

"Never say never. I will not think for [Turkish President Tayyip] Erdogan, but, proceeding from his statements, I think there is no reason to go back," Shamanov said, answering a TASS question. The lawmaker reiterated that France earlier decided not to transfer two Mistral helicopter carriers, which incurred material losses for Paris.

"Today Erdogan is closely linked to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin on issues of cooperation in this region (the Middle East region - TASS) not just in the military sphere, but in the economic one as well. I think that it is more beneficial for him to be friends with Russia today than dissolve this deal," he concluded.

In early May, German newspaper Bild released information, citing Turkish diplomatic circles, that Turkey’s authorities plan to revisit the decision to purchase S-400s from Russia due to a sharp deterioration of the situation in the republic and the depreciation of the lira. However, Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun refuted this information last Friday.

Bloomberg reported on May 13 that Turkey is studying another US appeal to postpone the purchase of the Russian anti-aircraft missile system S-400. The signing of the contract between Russia and Turkey to deliver S-400s was officially confirmed in 2017. Unlike China, which was the first foreign customer, the Turkish side is to receive one regimental set of these systems instead of two. The US is actively trying to prevent the deliveries of these arms to Turkey.

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Vladimir Putin Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan

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