Hulusi Akar

Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül has announced that all judicial proceedings have been suspended until April 30, as part of measures taken to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Turkey's Defense Ministry said on March 19 that two of its soldiers were killed and another was injured in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib, in a rocket attack by "some radical groups".

In a written statement, the ministry said the radical groups in the de-escalation zone attacked Turkish soldiers, adding that its forces had opened fire on targets in the area.

Turkish, German, British and French leaders discussed the Syria crisis and migrant issue as well as joint action against coronavirus in a videoconference, the Turkish presidency said on March 17.

Turkish and British defense ministers visited Turkey's southeastern border on March 13 to observe the situation of refugees.
Hulusi Akar and Ben Wallace were in Turkey's border post in Hatay province and observed from an observation tower the refugee situation in Atma.

The intense Turkish military presence in the Aegean, the Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus is proof that Turkey has emerged as a critical player on the international scene, according to its defense minister, Hulusi Akar.

In comments translated into Greek, Akar added that Turkey owes this position in the international arena to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkish and Russian military delegations have agreed to establish joint coordination centers and the military activities in Idlib will be managed from these centers, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on March 13.

Turkey's defense minister met with his British counterpart on March 12.

Hulusi Akar received Ben Wallace, who was in Ankara as an official guest, with a military ceremony, according to a statement from Turkey's Defense Ministry.

After the ceremony, Akar and Wallace held a meeting with their delegations.

Turkish and Russian delegations, which have been holding talks for the past two days regarding the implementation of the fresh cease-fire in Idlib, have reached an agreement "to a large extent," the Turkish defense chief has said.

A Russian military delegation arrived in the Turkish capital of Ankara on March 10 evening, for talks on the details of the ceasefire.

Talks between Turkey and Russia on the implementation of a ceasefire agreement in Syria's northwestern Idlib region are "positive and constructive," Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has said.

"Our activities continue within the context of the [ceasefire] agreement. The situation has been calm," Akar told reporters in parliament.

Turkey and Russia will start joint patrols in Idlib northwestern Syria on March 15 under the ceasefire for the embattled province reached this week, Turkey's defense minister said.