Turkey plans to launch its first intelligence gathering satellite in 2012October 5, 2010 - 20:44 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey plans to launch its first intelligence gathering satellite into space in 2012, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday, October 5. The satellite will ease Turkey's reliance on US intelligence in its operations against the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which launches attacks on Turkish military targets from bases in northern Iraq. "We will launch the Gokturk intelligence satellite in 2012," Erdogan told members of his party in comments televised live. The Gokturk satellite is being developed by Turkish defense contractor Aselsan and Finmeccanica's unit Telespazio. The satellite, expected to cost around 250 million euros ($344 million), will provide high resolution imagery to trace movement of objects less than one square meter. The satellite will also be used to track down narcotics and human trafficking across Turkish territory, ynetnews.com reported. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Lemkin Institue slams Pashinyan's “cryptic engagement with Genocide denial” The Lemkin Institute is alarmed over Pashinyan’s statements “questioning Armenia's legal basis to pursue justice against Turkey”. 41 detained as antigovernment protests continue in Yerevan 41 people were detained in Yerevan as people demanding Pashinian’s resignation stage campaigns of civil disobedience. Armenia votes for UN resolution granting Palestine new rights The U.N. General Assembly voted by a wide margin on May 10 to grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine. EU still discussing funding Armenia through European Peace Facility Discussions continue in the EU on providing Armenia with funds from the European Peace Facility, Vassilis Maragos says. |