ANKARA - General Staff Deputy Chief General Ilker Basbug said on Friday that guard of Hikmet Cetin who was assigned as NATO's Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan would be provided by General Staff.
Holding a press briefing at the General Staff Headquarters in Ankara, Gen. Basbug said that operation of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan had been performed at four phases so far in accordance with the resolution no: 1386 of the United Nations and stated that fifth phase under the leadership of Canada was planned to be started in February.
Basbug said that Turkey which took part in all phases of the ISAF operation succeeded in leadership of ISAF-II Operation and administration of Kabul Airport for eight months between July 2002 and February 2003 and recalled that NATO took over the command of ISAF Operation on August 11, 2003.
Stating that ISAF's mission area which had been limited with Kabul and its vicinity was enlarged including also Konduz in accordance with resolution no 1510 of the United Nations Security Council, Basbug said that this new approach foresaw that ISAF components under the leadership of NATO would extend support to Afghan administration not only in Kabul but also in other regions.
Basbug said that regional development teams would be formed with participation of not only soldiers but also civil personnel to support development, agriculture, health and training.
''It has been decided to send three helicopters to Kabul with the approval of the government when additional contributions were brought onto the agenda about NATO-led ISAF Operation. Besides Turkey's contribution, the Netherlands committed that it will send five helicopters and Germany also committed that it will send three additional helicopters. Technical work on this issue has been continuing with coordination of NATO authorities and concerned countries,'' he noted.
Recalling that Hikmet Cetin was assigned as NATO's Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan, Basbug said that guard of Cetin would be provided by General Staff.
Basbug added that Turkey was continuing its contributions to international forces under the ISAF with a team and officers in headquarters.
(EÖ-UK) 16.01.2004