Hand Over Ceremony In Air Forces Command

GEN. ASPARUK: ''AS THE OTHER NATIONS CONTROL WORLD DOMINATION FROM SPACE, THE TURKISH NATION GOES BACK A CENTURY AND FIGHTS AGAINST BLUE STREAM, IMAM-HATIP SCHOOLS, AND HEADSCARF IN A VICIOUS CIRCLE''

ANKARA - Gen. Cumhur Asparuk, Air Forces Commander, on Wednesday handed over his mission to Gen. Ibrahim Firtina in a ceremony in which President Ahmet Necdet Sezer participated.
Speaking at the hand over ceremony, Gen. Asparuk said, ''as the other nations control world domination from space, unfortunately the Turkish nation goes back a century and fights against Blue Stream, Imam-Hatip schools, head-scarf and clothes used in culture of other countries. We are in the era of information. Those who have information and those who use it in the most appropriate way will prevail the world.''
Gen. Asparuk called on his colleagues to protect foundation philosophy of the secular and democratic Turkish Republic which has an inseparable integrity with nation, language and national culture.
Gen. Asparuk said Turkish Armed Forces has the capacity to perform its assignments everywhere of the world, stating that Turkey succeeded in international assignments in the U.N. and NATO performed extending from Bosnia-Herzegovina to Afghanistan.
Gen. Asparuk said the geography in which Turkey is located was gradually dragged into indefiniteness, pointing out that Turkey's having a contemporary air forces has vital importance.
Gen. Firtina in his part said Turkey was located in one of the most critical regions of the world, and noted that Turkey has the potential of undertaking very important roles in formation of new world and regional balances.
(AY) 27.08.2003