Hulusi Akar

Turkish Chief of Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar paid a visit to Azerbaijan from Oct. 5 to Oct. 6, during which he met with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov, Prime Minister Artur Rasizade and Spokesperson of the Azeri National Assembly Oktay Esedov. 

A Turkish major, who was killed Sept. 26 in an attack by suspected members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the eastern province of Tunceli, was laid to rest in Ankara on Sept. 27.

Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar has said Turkey is the only NATO member country that is neighboring three crisis areas, namely Syria, Iraq and Ukraine, speaking at NATO's Military Committee conference in Istanbul late on Sept. 12.

"These crises are in Syria, Iraq and Ukraine. These threats affect not only the region but also global security.

NATO?s highest military authority, the Military Committee, will convene in Istanbul for a three-day session starting Sept. 11 to review security challenges in Europe and the Middle East, as well as ongoing operations in Afghanistan.

The meeting will be hosted by Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar.

Turkey?s top security board discussed security measures to be taken for the safety of upcoming snap elections amid growing concerns on the security conditions especially in the country?s eastern and southeastern Anatolian region. 

I know this is an absurd question. The name of our state in all official documents here and abroad is the ?Republic of Turkey.? Well then, why such a question; why such a title? 

Let me explain. 

While he was delivering his Aug. 30 Victory Day message, our new Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar said some interesting things which drew my attention. 

The Turkish government and army have agreed on upgrading its armored vehicles in the aftermath of a landmine blast which caused the death of soldiers inside a lightly armored vehicle in Turkey's southeast. 

The decision to upgrade its fleet of armored vehicles came in yesterday's security meeting headed by Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu, where the defense industry was on the agenda. 

Turkey's top national security body will hold its next meeting on Sept. 2 when an interim "election government" is expected to be in charge of the country, which has been shaken by conflict between the security forces and outlawed militants.

Turkey?s frontline role in the United States-led campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), as well as the ongoing battle against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers? Party (PKK), has increased Turkey?s security needs, the country?s new top commander has said, calling for a marshalling of all resources at hand.

The Turkish government has decided to bestow outgoing Chief of Turkish General Staff Gen. Necdet Özel with the state medal of honor in recognition of his ?high services to the nation.?