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 Different
segments of the United States government have differing views on
Turkey's attack helicopter tender, according to diplomatic sources.
Reportedly, some U.S. State Department officials are lukewarm at the
prospect of granting an export license to U.S. companies in the event
they have the winning model. While the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights
and Labor headed by Assistant Secretary of State Harold Honju Koh
opposes granting an export license, other State Department bureaus along
with the Pentagon support the sale, or at any rate do not object to it.
U.S. defense circles supporting the sale have labeled the objections on
the grounds of alleged human rights abuses as "intentional
nonsense."
With the Turkish government's statement of March 6 of this year, the
five competing companies were reduced to three, leaving the U.S.'s Bell
Helicopter-Textron (AH-IZ King Cobra), Italy's Agusta (A129-I) and
Russia's Kamov competing jointly with Israel's IAI (KA-50/52-Erdogan) in
the running. Diplomatic sources stated that Turkey could announce the
result of the bid after talking with the three competitors one more
time.
Amid speculation that the American companies have the advantage in the
bid, Turkey and the United States have reportedly been preparing an
aviation agreement that will allow Turkish Airlines (THY) and American
Airlines to code share their flights. Diplomatic sources stated that the
text was being discussed by THY and Transportation Ministry officials,
and added that if these talks resulted in an agreement, it would be
signed this week during the Turkish-U.S. Joint Economic Commission
meetings.
If the sides can reach an agreement, Turkish passengers flying to the
United States will have the opportunity to fly to many cities on
American Airlines, the second largest U.S. airline. Also, Americans who
fly to Turkey will enjoy a greater variety of options. THY currently has
service to New York, Chicago and Miami.
The Joint Economic Commission will be held on March 23-24 in Washington,
D.C. The Turkish delegation will be chaired by Treasury Undersecretary
Selcuk Demiralp.
(Turkish Daily News)
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