ANKARA, March 13 (A.A) - National Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu said on Wednesday that awarding tender of modernization of 170 M-60 tanks to an Israeli firm did not have any political reason.
Responding to questions of deputies during Parliamentary Planning and Budget Commission, Cakmakoglu said, ''people can of course criticize its timing. But, this decision was taken as the final stage was reached after one and a half years of deliberations.''
Cakmakoglu noted that the M-60 tanks were the oldest tanks of the Turkish Armed Forces and that every part of those tanks other than its body had to be renewed.
Turkey's know-how and capabilities were not sufficient to modernize those tanks, Cakmakoglu stated.
Cakmakoglu said, ''the tender was awarded to an Israeli firm because this country has fulfilled modernization in this field. The purpose of awarding this tender to an Israeli firm is totally military and commercial not political.''