Turkey Hands Over Command Of I.S.A.F.

KABUL - National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said on Monday that Turkey attributed great importance to Afghanistan's territorial integrity and independence.
Turkey handed over command of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to Germany and the Netherlands with a ceremony.
Gen. Hilmi Akin Zorlu, who commanded ISAF since June 20, 2002, addressed the ceremony and said they handed over command of ISAF to Germany-Netherlands partnership after eight months of working.
Pointing out that they carried out the efforts together with Afghan officials, Gen. Zorlu said, ''I am sure that all the things we have done boosted morale of local people. ISAF command fulfilled very important things in creation of a very comprehensive security system. It provided increase of coordination and cooperation between Afghan security forces and ISAF command. We provided training of Afghan security forces. We have developed cooperation of civilian people and military units. We helped local communities.''
Stating that they treated equally to all ethnical groups, Gen. Zorlu said they did not intervene in domestic affairs of Afghanistan. He said ISAF personnel respected Afghanistan's traditions, cultural and religious values, and gained the confidence of Afghan officials and people.
''We have reached all our goals here. We have fulfilled our commitments which we have given in June. We know that Afghan people are honorable. We have many friends here. We have very good memories here,'' Zorlu said.
Gen. Zorlu said an atmosphere had to be provided in Afghanistan to hold elections freely in 2004, and that cooperation with the international society should be increased.
German Gen. Norbert Van Heyst said they have important assignments as the German-Dutch partnership, and wanted Karzai to continue their support and cooperation. He said they wanted to install continuos peace.
Gen. Norbert Van Heyst said they would overcome the difficulties with team working, noting that they would fulfill decision of the U.N. Security Council on Afghanistan issue.
National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul in his part thanked to everybody who did their best for Afghanistan's security. Noting that Turkey and Afghanistan have very strong historical ties, Gonul said the mission which Turkey undertook was a part of fight carried out against terrorism, and an indication of strategic partnership with the West.
Gonul said that Turkey's efforts to ensure internal peace in Afghanistan was the indicator of how much it worked to prevent regional and global terrorism and to ensure peace and stability.
''Turkey attributes utmost importance to Afghanistan. It attributes utmost importance to Afghanistan's territorial integrity. Our sincere hope is saving Afghanistan from terrorism, radicalism and providing peace, welfare and democracy. We are determined to help reconstruction of Afghanistan to this end,'' Gonul noted.
Gonul stated that Afghanistan would be reconstructed under leadership of Karzai and Karzai's name would be recorded in history.
German Defense Minister Peter Struck decorated General Zorlu with a gold medal for ''the great things'' he had done in Afghanistan.
Dutch Defense Minister Henk Kamp said that they envied things that Turkish soldiers done in Afghanistan.
Zorlu gave the ISAF flag to new commander Heyst.
U.S. President George Bush's advisor for Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad, Foreign Ministry Middle East Department Chief Tahsin Burcuoglu, Turkish Ambassador in Kabul Mufit Ozdes, Afghan Vice President and Defense Minister Mohammad Fahim Khan, Afghan Chief of General Staff General Asif Dilavar, ambassadors in Afghanistan, military attaches and other officials attended the ceremony.
Turkish and foreign press members showed great interest in the ceremony.
The number of Turkish soldiers will be reduced to 182 in Kabul with Turkey's handing over the command of ISAF to Germany and the Netherlands.
About 5,000 soldiers are serving peace under the ISAF, which is formed with participation of 22 countries.
The number of German soldiers will be increased to 2,500 and the number of Dutch soldiers will be risen to 640 after the two countries took over the command of ISAF.
A press conference was held following the ceremony.
Answering questions of reporters, Heyst said that mission zone of ISAF would be in borders of Kabul in accordance with U.N. resolution.
Upon a question on NATO's support to ISAF, Heyst said that NATO would extend most logistic support to ISAF.
Khan said that ISAF was vital to settle peace and security in Afghanistan.
Khan stated that they, as Afghan state, wanted ISAF to also be extended out of Kabul and added that if mandate of ISAF was also extended to out of Kabul, they were ready to extend all kinds of support to ISAF to settle peace and security in the other regions.
Struck said that problems in Afghanistan were not solved completely and stated that they, as ISAF, would stay there till security was ensured in Afghanistan.
Turkey which has been commander of Kabul airport for about eight months will hand over command of airport to Germany and the Netherlands on February 17.

KARZAI: ''SOLDIERS COMING FROM VARIOUS COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD PROVIDED CHILDREN TO GO TO SCHOOL, AND PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN TO ECONOMIC LIFE''
Afghan President Karzai, who spoke in the ceremony, pointed out that it was important for them that Turkey and Germany took over the command of ISAF one after the other as Afghanistan had rooted relations with them.
Karzai said Turkey and Germany, in the past, opposed to those experienced in Afghanistan and provided continuation of atmsophere of dialogue by holding meetings in Istanbul and Bonn.