ISTANBUL, Turkey, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Leading Turkish politicians expressed concerns over the U.S. proposed European missile shield.
Numan Kurtulmus, leader of the newly established People's Voice Party, or HSP, told journalists in Ankara, "It's a project that could lead to World War III. It's not for defense but for aggression," Hurriyet newspaper reported Wednesday.
The HSP will have its first convention Sunday in a bid to meet the criteria for political parties to be able to enter the 2011 general elections.
"The (reason) for founding NATO in 1991 disappeared following the demise of the Soviet Union. Since then it has been trying to create new enemies for itself to justify its existence. And it has found its enemies among the Muslim countries," Kurtulmus said.
He also said that since the alliance can no longer contribute to global peace, NATO should no longer be seen as the "single option" for Turkey before concluding, "With the approval of the missile shield, Turkey has once again become the front country of NATO."
