General Nicolae Ciuca, the chief of General Staff made an official visit to Turkey, during which he met with his counterpart, General Hulusi Akar and the defence minister of Turkey.

During the meeting with the Turkish Defence Minister, Fikri Isik, they discussed the regional security context, the allied evolutions in managing security on NATO eastern and southern flank and the development of military cooperation.

Fikri Isik mentioned that the cultural and historic similarities between the two states represent a possible vector of consolidating the strategic partnership. General Ciuca noted the progress of military cooperation, at bilateral level and within the Alliance, and the results obtained in the field of bilateral cooperation. The Turkish official mentioned the International Defence Industry Exhibition hosted by his country in Istanbul, over May 9 to 12 and reiterated the invitation addressed to the Romanian officials in the defence and security area to participate in this event.

These topics were also brought up during the talks between the delegations headed by the chiefs of the two general staffs, when they discussed the regional security context, the national and allied developments in managing efficiently the common challenges to the current security environment. They also discussed aspects related to the fields of activity and possibilities of military cooperation, to other regional or bilateral projects, mainly for joint training, education, exchange of defence information and the development of the regional cooperation in a multinational format. Another topic approached during the discussions was the partnership on cultural exchanges.

In turn, General Ciuca thanked his Turkish counterpart for the warm welcome, hospitality and the openness shown during the talks.
The meeting was a highly constructive and productive one contributing to the validation of bilateral relations between our countries and, in particular, our armed forces. It is important that the military experience and joint commitments at allied level follow the path of a consolidated strategic partnership, while at personal level it should translate into a good relation of friendship,' General Ciuca added at the end of his speech and invited his hosts to make an official visit to Romania.

The visit program included a wreath-laying ceremony at the monument of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

On the sidelines of the visit carried out by the Romanian Chief of the General Staff, a brief visit was included to the Turkish Aerospace Industries and Aselsan, two companies producing military equipment for the Turkish defence industry.

Press Department