US Air Force commander presedent medal by his Turkish counterpart

US Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz arrived in Ankara yesterday for an official visit at the invitation of Turkish Air Forces Commander Hasan Aksay. In appreciation of the US opening a new air corridor for the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) to conduct cross-border operations against terrorist PKK bases in northern Iraq, Aksay decorated his US counterpart with the TSK's Legion of Merit Medal, which is presented to generals who help strengthen ties of friendship and cooperation between Turkey and other countries. "We have worked shoulder to shoulder with the Turkish Air Forces in continuing operations in Afghanistan and Iraq," Gen. Schwartz told the award ceremony. "I believe this partnership will continue in the future as well." For his part, Gen. Aksay called the US a friend and ally.