Akar

Greek Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos and his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar held a telephone conversation Wednesday ahead of the meeting of NATO ministers of defense in Brussels February 12-13, Kathimerini reports.

Turkey said on Feb. 3 its military hit 54 of Syrian regime's targets after eight Turkish military personnel were killed by shelling in Idlib in northwest Syria, where fighting threatens to test ties between Ankara and Moscow.

Greece's Foreign Ministry on Thursday rejected arguments by Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar that Athens is allegedly violating international law by not demilitarizing 16 of its islands, saying Ankara's concern on legality is "hypocritical."

Akar said Greece's arming 16 out of 23 islands with "non-military status" is in violation of agreements in the Aegean sea.

Turkey's Defense Minister Hulusi Akar called on Greece to demilitarize 16 Greek islands near its coast, which he claimed have a "non-military status."

Arming 16 out of 23 islands with non-military status is in violation of agreements in the Aegean sea, he said during a visit to Turkey's missile producer Roketsan on Wednesday, according to state-run Anadolu Agency.

Turkish defense minister discussed regional issues with his Russian counterpart over the phone, an official statement from Russia said on Jan. 20.

Turkey's Hulusi Akar spoke to Russia's Sergey Shoygu, according to Russia's National Defense Ministry.

The officials discussed recent developments in the region and North Africa.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar received U.S. Special Envoy for Syria James Jeffrey, Turkey's Ministry of National Defense announced on Jan. 10.

In a written statement, the ministry said Akar and Jeffrey discussed issues of regional security with a special focus on Syria.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Jan. 3 chaired a meeting to discuss recent developments in the region.

Following the Istanbul meeting, held in the Dolmabahçe Palace, Communications Director Fahrettin Altun said the meeting discussed recent developments in Iraq, Libya and Syria, as well as the recent U.S.-Iran row.

Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaşar Güler and force commanders entered the New Year with surprise visits to land, sea and air units.

Turkey's defense minister expressed his hopes to resolve an ongoing disagreement with Russia on Libya through dialogue, days before the Turkish Parliament is to vote for the deployment of Turkish troops to the war-torn country.

Turkey will definitely stay at its observation posts monitoring a cease-fire in northwestern Syria, and its soldiers there have orders to respond to any acts of hostility, said Turkey's defense chief on Dec. 28.