Turkish president says radar system is not against Iran

ANKARA (A.A) - March 14, 2012 - Turkey's president said on Wednesday that the radar system deployed in Turkey was not against Iran. President Abdullah Gul said Turkey was a NATO member since 1952 and was one of most important members of the alliance. "This radar system is a measure within the scope of NATO's defense taken against missiles," Gul told Tunisian TV channel. Gul said this radar system did not aim at attacking any country, but it was against other missiles. President Gul said Iran was Turkey's neighbor and therefore Turkey attached importance to its relations with Iran. In September, Turkey agreed to go ahead with a NATO plan to set up an early-warning radar system in Malatya's Kurecik town, which is in the east of the country. Claiming that the missile shield aims to protect Israel and target Iranian missiles, Tehran criticized Ankara for its decision to deploy the NATO radar system.  Commenting on allegations that the radar system was deployed in order to protect Israel, Gul said, "this is out of question as Israel is not a NATO member and cannot make use of NATO capabilities." "Moreover, such a thing is not possible as long as Turkey is in this alliance because every decision is made unanimously within NATO. This is just a dark propaganda of Israel," Gul said. Gul said Turkey was following zero problem policy with its neighbors, which meant that it had a friendship with its neighbors and it was in peace and cooperation with them.  President Gul said Turkey had taken its place beside Syrian people because it could not prevent clashes and bloodshed in the country although it had worked so hard.  "If we do not cooperate with our neighbors, there cannot be stability and confidence in our region and there cannot be economic development in a region where there is no stability or confidence," Gul also said.