Turkish defense minister Vecdi Gonul in Israel for 2-day visit, focusing on Israeli made aircraft.
By YAAKOV LAPPIN, HERB KEINONheron uav iai 224 88(photo credit: IAI)
Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul is in Israel for a two-day visit, the focus of which is to examine a batch of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that Turkey is slated to acquire, Turkish officials said.
According to Turkish media reports, last year Turkey began operating the medium-altitude Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Elbit-made Heron UAVs over northern Iraq, home to scores of Kurdish rebel bases.
The drones can reportedly fly for over 30 hours at an altitude of over 32,000 feet.
The UAVs were acquired by Turkey in 2005 deal worth $150 million, and are being delivered to the Turkish Defense Ministry over three years.
Turkish officials said viewing the UAVs in the air was a centerpiece of Gonul's visit.
Gonul met with Defense Minister Ehud Barak at the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, and the two discussed military defense cooperation between Israel and Turkey.
Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, the Middle East peace process, Hamas and Hizbullah were also raised during the discussions, as were the Turkish-mediated peace talks between Israel and Syria.
Barak described his Turkish counterpart as a "true friend of Israel and an important Turkish leader.
"For Israel, it is very important that productive relations exist, and that the ties between Israel and Turkey become deeper between in all fields," Barak said. "These ties are very important to us from a strategic and regional standpoint."
Gonul was greeted at the Defense Ministry by an IDF honor guard. On Thursday, Gonul is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
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