U.S. To Transfer Eight Frigates To Turkey

WASHINGTON D.C., Feb 6 (A.A) - The U.S. will donate six Knox type frigates and sell two Perry type frigates to Turkey at a reasonable price to contribute to the modernization of Turkish Naval Forces.
The U.S. administration applied to the U.S. Congress last month to make official the transfer of the frigates. The transfer of the frigates to Turkey will become formal after a period of 30 days.
The total value of the two Perry type frigates, which are newer, is 110 million dollars. The older six Knox frigates will be donated to Turkey.
American officials said that they didn't expect any objection from the U.S. Congress about the transfer of frigates. However the Armenian and Greek lobbies started a campaign against the transfer of Perry frigates to Turkey.
American National Committee of Armenians (ANCA) and American Hellenic Institute issued a statement claiming that the transfer of the Perry frigates to Turkey would destabilize the military balance in East Mediterranean and deepen the economic crisis in Turkey.