Turkey To Hand Over Command Of I.S.A.F.

ANKARA - Turkey, which has been commanding the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan since June 20, 2002, will hand over the command of ISAF to Germany and the Netherlands on February 10, 2003.
Turkish delegation will leave for Afghan capital Kabul on February 9 to attend the ceremony to hand over the command of ISAF.
National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, a group of officials from the General Staff and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Middle East Department Director General Tahsin Burcuoglu will take place in the delegation.
All preparations for the ceremony were about to finish.
Besides defense ministers of Germany and the Netherlands, President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan will be in attendance at the ceremony.
Following the ceremony, the delegation and ISAF Commander General Hilmi Akin Zorlu will return to Turkey the same day.
Meanwhile, Afghan authorities decorated General Zorlu and six Turkish officers with medals for their success during command of the ISAF.