İzmir to be transformed into NATO land baseJune 7, 2011 - 12:22 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Aegean province of İzmir, Turkey will be transformed into NATO’s land base, Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said. “The final shape of the planning is that Izmir will be the Land Force Command of NATO,” Gonul said in Antalya. Izmir was hosting NATO’s air base and was one of the two headquarters, along with the one in Larissa, Greece, that NATO was considering shutting down last year as part of plans to tighten its command structure. “We insisted on a restructuring, which will display Izmir’s international identity. Some work has been done, and we struggled. Now NATO’s land force command is moving to Izmir. Thus, instead of the air force, the land force will be in Izmir,” Gonul said. According to him, the number of personnel at the base would not change very much. “It has not yet been submitted to decision-making mechanisms,” Gonul said. “But according to the plans, NATO’s Air Force will be based in Izmir.” The new plan will be discussed at the NATO’s meeting of defense ministers on June 8 and 9, Hurriyet Daily News reported. Izmir is also playing a critical role in the undertaking of NATO’s mission in Libya, acting as the center for operations monitoring the no-fly zone in crisis-stricken North African country. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Your home is in Armenia – Ameriabank offers mortgage loans for the Diaspora To buy real estate, Diasporans can apply to Ameriabank online to buy, renovate or build a home anywhere in Armenia. Armenia-Qatar ties discussed in Doha The Secretary of Armenia’s Security Council met with the Deputy Secretary General of the National Security Council of Qatar. ARARAT special evening dedicated to Aznavour's 100th Anniv. On May 20 ARARAT legendary Armenian brandy, celebrated the centennial of Maestro Charles Aznavour with a special event. Surveying works underway in Armenia’s Kirants Surveying works are underway in the Armenian village of Kirants in the northern Tavush province. |