Turkey wants to control the U.S. missile shield elements on its territory

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan conveyed to US President Barack Obama Turkey's priorities and concerns regarding the placement of elements of a missile defense systems on its territory. Erdogan stated that the management of the system should be entrusted to Turkey. Otherwise, he said, it would impossible to reach an agreement, TRT Russian reports.

Erdogan also noted that the question of establishing the missile defense should be viewed  in the context of the general interests of NATO, stressing that the system should not function as a threat to any particular country. The issue will be further discussed at the upcoming NATO Lisbon summit and if agreements are reached on a number of issues, the American missile defense system will be located in Turkey, Erdogan said.