(GEN) U.S. DOES NOT PUT PRESSURE OVER TURKEY TO DO MORE IN AFGHANISTAN,ADMIRAL MULLEN Saturday, 04.Sep.2010, 11:36 (GMT+2) ANKARA (A.A) - Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs Adm. MichaelMullen said on Saturday that he did not come to Turkey to ask the country to domore in Afghanistan."I did not come here to press Turkey to do more in Afghanistan,"AdmiralMullen told a news conference at the U.S. Embassy Building in Ankara.Mullen said his last visit to Turkey was in September 2008, noting that manychanges had taken place since then.He said the end of the withdrawal of U.S. combat mission in Iraq and thesurge in the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan were particularly importantdevelopments. He underlined that assistance of Turkey in and for both missionswere extremely vital. Admiral Mullen said his visit to Turkey was important forthat respect.Admiral Mullen said he had spent most of his time during his visit withTurkey's new Chief of General Staff Gen. Isik Kosaner.Wishing success to Gen. Kosaner for his new post, Admiral Mullen said hewanted to underline the commitment of the U.S. armed forces to continue andfurther strengthen"our already close working relationship."Admiral Mullen said he wanted to thank to Gen. Kosaner for leadership of theTurkish Armed Forces in restoring stability and security in all NATO missionsextending from Afghanistan to Kosovo and to Bosnia-Herzegovina.Stating he came to Turkey directly from Kabul, Admiral Mullen said Turkey'scontributions were noticeable and appreciated by them.Admiral Mullen said Turkey commanded allied forces in Kabul, trained AfghanNational Security Forces and police units, administered to two construction teamsin Afghanistan and assisted Afghan people to make progress in improving theirlives.Mullen said a Force Generation Conference would take place at the end ofthis month, adding that they would be pleased if the Turkish governmentconsidered the additional assistance as appropriate.Mullen said he definitely did not come to question or rebut Turkey'sdecision not to support the sanctions that were put to vote by the United Nationsagainst Iran.(AY)
ANKARA (A.A) - Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs Adm. MichaelMullen said on Saturday that he did not come to Turkey to ask the country to domore in Afghanistan."I did not come here to press Turkey to do more in Afghanistan,"AdmiralMullen told a news conference at the U.S. Embassy Building in Ankara.Mullen said his last visit to Turkey was in September 2008, noting that manychanges had taken place since then.He said the end of the withdrawal of U.S. combat mission in Iraq and thesurge in the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan were particularly importantdevelopments. He underlined that assistance of Turkey in and for both missionswere extremely vital. Admiral Mullen said his visit to Turkey was important forthat respect.Admiral Mullen said he had spent most of his time during his visit withTurkey's new Chief of General Staff Gen. Isik Kosaner.Wishing success to Gen. Kosaner for his new post, Admiral Mullen said hewanted to underline the commitment of the U.S. armed forces to continue andfurther strengthen"our already close working relationship."Admiral Mullen said he wanted to thank to Gen. Kosaner for leadership of theTurkish Armed Forces in restoring stability and security in all NATO missionsextending from Afghanistan to Kosovo and to Bosnia-Herzegovina.Stating he came to Turkey directly from Kabul, Admiral Mullen said Turkey'scontributions were noticeable and appreciated by them.Admiral Mullen said Turkey commanded allied forces in Kabul, trained AfghanNational Security Forces and police units, administered to two construction teamsin Afghanistan and assisted Afghan people to make progress in improving theirlives.Mullen said a Force Generation Conference would take place at the end ofthis month, adding that they would be pleased if the Turkish governmentconsidered the additional assistance as appropriate.Mullen said he definitely did not come to question or rebut Turkey'sdecision not to support the sanctions that were put to vote by the United Nationsagainst Iran.(AY)
Germany's defense minister says the commander of the troubled navy training ship has been relieved of his duties and the vessel ordered to return amid questions surrounding the death of a sailor on board late last year. Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg said the Gorch Fock would remain in port pending the results of an investigation into the death of the 25-year-old sailor who plunged from the ship's rigging in November. Guttenberg told ARD public broadcaster on Saturday Jan. 22, 2011 the ship would not be used for training pending the outcome of an investigation. Guttenberg consistently polls as one of the nation's most popular politicians, but has come under pressure in recent weeks over a series of issues in the military, including the death on the Gorch Fock.
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