ANKARA (A.A) - 30.05.2002 - Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) has been serving peace in the world by participating actively in missions under pioneership of international organizations.
Turkey took its first step for military integration with international society by supporting the United Nations during the Korean War between 1950 and 1953.
Following the Korean War, Turkey became an ally of NATO, and the Turkish soldiers participated in international forces.
When mass threats were replaced with uncertain threats following the Cold War era, Turkey joined the international peace forces formed against crises erupted in Somalia, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo.
Turkey participated in the Operation Restore Hope launched by the United Nations between January 2, 1993 and February 24, 1994 in order to put an end to hatred among rival groups in Somalia and to create a safe atmosphere to distribute humanitarian aid, with 300 soldiers. Also, Turkey carried out command of the peace-keeping force in Somalia for a while.
Later, TSK joined the multinational force led by Italy in line with the resolution taken by the United Nations Security Council about aid to Albania.
TSK carried out relief activities with a troop of 779 soldiers beginning from April of 1997. Turkish troop returned to Turkey on August 1, 1997 after transfer of Turkish citizens from Albania.
-BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA-
Turkey participated in the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) which was formed to support the delivery of humanitarian relief, to monitor no fly zones and safe areas following the civil war in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
TSK deployed a troop of 1,400 soldiers in the region between August 4, 1993 and December 31, 1995. The peace force was reinforced after the Dayton Peace Accord was put into practice. Turkish troop joined the NATO-led Implementation Force (IFOR) on December 20, 1995. IFOR was replaced with Stabilization Force (SFOR) on December 20, 1996. 701 Turkish soldiers have still been working to settle peace in Zenica.
Meanwhile, Turkish Naval Forces joined the Operation Sharp Guard launched in the Adriatic between July 13, 1992 and October 2, 1996 in parallel with the UNPROFOR and IFOR, with two frigates, fuel-oil vessels and mine-detecting vessels.
-KOSOVO-
NATO started an air strike on March 24, 1999 after crisis in Kosovo turned into an armed clash. TSK supported NATO's strike by sending ten F-16 war planes to the region. Within the framework of the operation, Turkey kept ready three KC-135 tanker planes at the Incirlik Base and eight F-16 war planes in Bandirma. Also, Turkey charged one its frigates and a mine-detecting vessel in the Adriatic. Turkey also joined the 42-thousand-people-force formed to implement the peace accord signed between NATO and Federal Republic of NATO in order to find a solution to Kosovo crisis.
In addition to supporting peace operations, Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) has also undertaken various tasks by supporting the troops in charge and to ensure their safety.
TSK, which sent a troop to provide the safety of supply routes of the troops charged in Kosovo, deployed a military police team in Albania to ensure the internal safety of communications headquarters and a infantry team in Macedonia to protect the security in the KFOR headquarters. Turkey also took part in the AFOR which was charged in Albania following the refugee flows to Macedonia and Albania, with a battlefield service company between May 18-Sept. 7, 1999.
TSK took part in the operation ''Essential Harvest Operation'' in Macedonia with a company on August 2001. The company which was deployed in Petrovac region, also sent four headquarters personnel to the operation ''Amber Fox'' which started on Sept. 27, 2001 to provide support to the international observers in Macedonia.
Turkey recently took part in the operation ''Enduring Freedom'' which was started in Afghanistan following the terrorist attacks in the U.S. and proved the importance it attributed to world peace.
TSK which took part in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) formed in Afghanistan to install the peace with a troop of 276 members, prepares to get the command of ISAF at the end of June. Meanwhile the transfer of the military personnel who will be charged in the region for six months in Kabul and its surrounding has been completed.
-U.N. MILITARY OBSERVATION MISSIONS -
TSK also fulfilled many military observation tasks within the scope of U.N. Turkey which carried out this task on behalf of U.N. in five critical regions from Bosnia-Herzegovina to East Timor, works with 30 personnel in Georgia on behalf of OSCE, and in West Bank on behalf of Israel and Palestine.
Turkey undertook its first observation mission following the end of Iran-Iraq war between August, 1988 and May 1991 with a team of ten persons. TSK which was later charged on Iraqi-Kuwaiti border within the scope of UNIKOM, sent 69 personnel to the region since May 21, 1991.
Turkey fulfils its observation mission with six officers in Kuwait.
TSK which charged 69 personnel within the scope of UNOMIF to control the implementation of the cease-fire declared between Georgia and Abkhazia, as of October 15, 1994, keeps five Turkish observers in the region who informs the U.N. Secretariat General about any violations.
TSK which took part in the OSCE observation mission formed on Georgian border to control the refugee flow that started after the operation of Russia to Chechnya, with one observer on February 20, 2000, increased the number of military observer to two as of April 7, 2002.
Turkey which joined the temporary international existence formed on February 1, 1997 to watch the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from Hebron city in West Bank and its transfer to the Palestinian administration, has still 12 Turkish personnel in the region.
Turkey which joined the military observation group in East Timor on February 1, 2000, has charged four officers in the region to date, watches the activities to install security and stability in the region with two personnel.
In addition to military observation missions, Turkey also carries out the task of military consultation. TSK has one officer in the military consultation team formed within the scope of U.N Mission for Bosnia-Herzegovina (UNMIBH) as of January 8, 2001 and two gendarme officers in the International Police Team (IPTF) deployed in Bosnia.