GENERAL OZKOK DECORATES GENERAL JONG HWAN KIM WITH MEDAL OF MERIT

ANKARA - Korean General Staff Chief General Jong Hwan Kim visited General Staff Chief General Hilmi Ozkok on Monday.
Speaking at the meeting, General Ozkok said, ''despite the geographical distance between Turkey and Republic of Korea, friendly relations between our countries have been further strengthening day by day. The relations between the Turkish Armed Forces and the Korean Armed Forces includes much more different characteristics than normal relations between armed forces of two countries. A historic and sound tie based on the blood brotherhood of Turkish and Korean soldiers who lost their lives as fighting for the same goal, lies beneath these relations. Although 54 years have elapsed since the Korean War, this tie has not been impaired so far. On the contrary, it has further strengthened and reflected in our bilateral relations. On this occasion, I want to stress that Korea is one of the countries having the greatest feeling of fidelity. Korea constitutes a model for all other countries to this end. Because, countries, which do not forget their friends in difficult days, do not experience the same difficult days.''
''Korean people have a quite special image for us. My opinion has become clearer after my official visit to the Republic of Korea in 2002. During that visit, I observed Korean people's material and moral values. I observed that a nation having respect to laws, could develop in a short period of time under a good administration. During my visit, I was given a book as a present. I understood the fact lying beneath this miraculous achievement when I read the sentence in that book saying, 'we decided to resolve the problems with our wisdom instead of our feelings'. This sentence also expresses the feelings of Turkish nation,'' he said.
General Ozkok stressed, ''on this occasion, I commemorate heroic sons of our countries who fought side by side for the honorable freedom struggle of Korean people with great respect. They are envoys of the eternal friendship between Turkish and Korean armed forces.''
''Affinities in common values of our nations; historical ties between our countries; and military, political and economic relations which have accelerated recently, have brought us closer to each other. I appreciate sincere efforts of the Korean Armed Forces to this end. The Turkish Armed Forces has decided to decorate General Jong Hwan Kim with its Medal of Merit. This medal is a sign of improving relations, historic friendship and blood brotherhood between Turkey and Korea and a result of successful co-operation efforts of our armed forces,'' he added.
Later, General Ozkok decorated General Jong Hwan Kim with the Medal of Merit of the Turkish Armed Forces.
Meanwhile, General Jong Hwan Kim said in his part that he was proud of being decorated with the Medal of Merit by the Republic of Turkey.
General Jong Hwan Kim said, ''I perceive the Republic of Turkey's giving this medal having a great moral value, to me as an expression of encouragement and will to exert mutual efforts with the aim of further consolidating friendly relations between Turkish and Korean armies. I am determined to do everything in my power to further improve relations between our armies.''
(UK-AÖ) 22.03.2004