ANKARA - General Staff Operation Chief General Koksal Karabay said on Wednesday that Turkey would continue to contribute to the installation of regional and global peace with Turkish Armed Forces, adding that cooperation with armed forces of friendly and neighbouring countries would continue in all issues, including military issues.
Addressing the closing session of Silk Road-2003 Flag Officers Seminar, General Koksal Karabay said that the first steps of installing peace were dialogue, assistance, transparency, and good will.
''Reaching the new world security atmosphere is possible by cooperation and by countries' understanding each other. In this new security atmosphere, Turkey, as a country which is on the southeast border of NATO, is in a geostrategically important place between the Balkans, Caucasus and Central Asia. When the fact that various threats and wars could affect the region is taken into consideration, it is impossible for Turkey to fight against them on its own. All these threats necessitate collective defense systems. These risks' threatening countries require close and constructive cooperation,'' he said.
Stressing that NATO had an important capacity in overcoming these risks, General Koksal Karabay said that Turkey did its best for building of a friendly atmosphere in line with the words of Ataturk, who said ''peace at home, peace in the world.'' Democratic and secular Turkey is a modern model for the countries in the region, he said.
''There are two basic elements of foreign policy:these are solution of problems by peaceful means and preventing crisis. Turkey took active role in all peace keeping operations in the world. It continued its active policy. Korea, Somali, Bosnia, Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia and Afghanistan are examples of that. Turkey always supported such kind of peace keeping operations within the scope of its opportunities. In this context, Turkey supported activities such as Southeast European Brigade (SEEBRIG), Black Sea Naval Cooperation Mission Force (BLACKSEAFOR) and undertook the second term command of ISAF. Turkey, at the same time, supported NATO projects, Mediterranean Dialogue, Southeast Defense Ministers (SEDM) initiatives,'' he said. He added that Turkey made cooperation with 42 countries within the scope of Partnership For Peace (PFP) and it ensured training to member countries.
(Öª) 04.06.2003