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| Turkey seeks UNIFIL
maritime force command Turkey has appealed to the UN to lead a naval task force of its international peacekeeping force deployed in Lebanon, diplomatic sources said. If the UN accepts Turkey's request, Ankara will be in command of the Maritime Task Force of UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for one year as of Aug. 1, 2007. Turkey is already contributing one ship and 234 crew members to the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force, which is supporting the Lebanese Navy in monitoring its territorial waters, patrolling Lebanon's coast and preventing arms smuggling. The force includes contributions from Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Norway and Sweden, in addition to Turkey. Germany, which contributes eight frigates and 865 crew, has been in command of the force since October 2006 and its term is set to expire in July 2007. The number of Turkish personnel in the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force is expected to increase if Turkey assumes command of the force. The Turkish move is an indication of Ankara's desire to boost its contribution to international peacekeeping missions across the world. Willing to boost its influence in global security affairs, Ankara is also seeking a non-permanent membership at the UN Security Council for 2009-2010. UNIFIL was deployed to southern Lebanon to monitor a ceasefire between Israeli and Hezbollah forces based in Lebanon. Despite widespread opposition and protests, the Turkish Parliament voted in autumn to authorize the government to send troops to the UN force in Lebanon. Turkey later dispatched forces, comprising mainly of naval force units, to patrol the eastern Mediterranean. Turkey also helps train the Lebanese army and support ally countries in naval and air transport. Turkey is currently involved in international peacekeeping operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Sudan, in addition to Lebanon. The number of Turkish troops serving in an international peacekeeping force in Afghanistan will go up from 750 to 1,000 as of April, when Turkey assumes command of the Kabul regional command operating within the framework of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Turkey has also been contributing 350 personnel to the European Union Military Operation in Bosnia (EUFOR - Althea). The Turkish unit is deployed in Zenica in Bosnia. Turkey is also set to assume command of the Multinational Task Force South, deployed in the southern region of Kosovo, for one year as of May and boost its troop contribution in the Kosovo Force (KFOR), a NATO-led international force responsible for establishing and maintaining security in Kosovo. The Turkish Armed Forces are already contributing naval and air elements to the KFOR’s efforts in Bosnia. Turkey has allocated eight F-16s and three marine tanker planes to NATO to support its operations in Kosovo. Military air bases in Balikesir, Bandirma and Çorlu can be used by NATO for Kosovo operations as well. The Turkish unit is deployed in Prizren, where headquarters of the Multinational Task Force South is located. In Sudan, Turkey has contributed a C-130 cargo plane to the African Union’s Darfur mission. Source: Todayszaman.com |
