Top officials take part in war academies graduation ceremony in Istanbul

Top state and military officials, including President Abdullah Gul, Parliament Speaker Mehmet Ali Sahin, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, Chief of General Staff Ilker Basbug and force commanders, gathered in Istanbul yesterday to attend the 2009-2010 War Academies graduation ceremony. Following the national anthem and a speech by War Academies Commander Air Forces Gen. Nusret Tasdeler, top young officers got their diplomas from Gul, Sahin, and Erdogan. Guest officers educated at the academies received their diplomas from Basbug. Many military personnel also attended the ceremony.