International Defense Fair Opens In Ankara

ANKARA - The 8th International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF 2007) opened Tuesday at an official ceremony in Ankara.
Addressing the ceremony, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said that IDEF was the biggest such event in Turkey`s region and it is among the five major defense fairs in the world.
"We have to keep our armed forces strong and well-equipped to safeguard peace and security in a geography of conflicts," Gonul said.
Near 500 foreign and domestic defense firms participate at this year`s event.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, General Staff Chief Gen. Yasar Buyukanit also attended the ceremony among other high level officials and visiting defense ministers and military chiefs.