IDEF defense fair opens in Istanbul

The International Defence Industry Fair 2009 (IDEF) began in Istanbul yesterday with an opening ceremony attended by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug, State Minister and chief negotiator for EU talks Egemen Bagis, military commanders and foreign guests. Addressing the ceremony, Erdogan said that Turkey has always placed great importance on efforts to promote peace in its region and the world. "Ensuring peace and stability in the challenging geography we live in will undoubtedly contribute to global peace and security," Erdogan said. Stating that as a NATO member for nearly six decades, Turkey has been an important stabilizing element in its region and made remarkable contributions to peace and welfare across the world, Erdogan said, "In recent years, Turkey has played key roles in working against threats to regional and global peace such as assuming the important responsibility of overcoming security problems in the Caucasus, keeping communication open between Pakistan and Afghanistan, solving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, mediating between Syria and Israel, and promoting stability in Lebanon." Stressing the strategic importance of Turkey's military power, Erdogan said Turkey offers its military capabilities to help promote regional peace, stability and security. Also speaking at the ceremony, Defense Minister Gonul said Turkey aims to improve its defense industry through mutual cooperation with its friends and allies. "We believe that if Turkey use its local resources and potential effectively, it can contribute much to global peace," he said. Stating that this year's larger defense fair includes naval defense technologies, Gonul said the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) is one of the most technologically developed militaries in the world. He added that in recent years Turkey has stepped up considerably its defense industry research and development efforts. As part of the fair, Turkey is expected to sign defense industry cooperation agreements with Germany, Australia and Syria. Businessmen from 80 countries and more than 400 senior officials, including 25 government ministers, are participating in IDEF, and some 62 percent of the firms exhibiting at the fair are foreign.