Israel's Barak to push defense contacts during Ankara visit

During his contacts in Ankara starting today, Israel Defense Minister Ehud Barak plans to promote defense contacts with firms from his country. Barak hopes to win more M-60 tank modernization projects and will argue that joint Israeli-US Arrow missiles are superior to the US-produced Patriots for a proposed Turkish defense system. He will also push Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for a Turkish spy satellite project. During his visit, Barak is set to meet with his Turkish counterpart Vecdi Gonul, as well as President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, and Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit.