18th High-level Joint Defense Group Meeting To Be Held In United States

ANKARA - The 18th meetings of Turkey-the United States High-level Joint Defense Group will be held in Williamsburg, the United States, between November 17 and 19, 2003.
Releasing a statement, the General Staff said on Friday that General Staff Deputy Chief General Ilker Basbug and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Mira Ricardel would preside the meetings.
Noting that meetings of the High-level Joint Defense Group were being held once in a year in accordance with the Defensive and Economic Cooperation Agreement signed by Turkish and U.S. governments in 1980, the General Staff said that the meetings created a significant atmosphere for Turkish and U.S. civilian and military authorities to discuss bilateral, multilateral and regional security issues and defensive cooperation.
Issues such as cooperation in NATO; international cooperation in fight against terrorism; efforts to support peace and stability in the Balkans, Mediterranean, Caucasus, Central Asia and Middle East; assessments of the sides about regional developments; defensive relations of Turkey and the United States under Turkey-the United States partnership; cooperation in training; and the United States' support to Turkish defense industry are expected to top agenda of the meetings.
(UK) 14.11.2003