Hulusi Akar: U.S. presents us new proposal on air and missile defense systems

The United States has presented Turkey a new proposal on the air and missile defense systems, Turkey's Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said following the meeting with U.S. Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan in Washington.

Akar noted that he had a "very constructive" talks with Shanahan and their views have got closer on some subjects. "The talk was very constructive and occurred with a very positive approach," Anadolu news agency cited Akar as saying. 

"We gladly observed that they understood many subjects much better and have got very close to our views on these subjects," the Turkish minister added.

Akar said Turkey had fulfilled its responsibilities on the issue of the F-35 project and that the training of Turkish pilots and maintenance teams was continuing. "We expect the other eight countries who are partners in this project to fulfill their responsibilities towards us," he said.

Akar had been visiting Washington with a large Turkish delegation for talks which have in part focused on areas of discord between the NATO allies, chiefly the purchase of a missile-defense system and the war in Syria.