Turkish Defence minister Vecdi Gonul said that, to date, around 600 Ukrainian soldiers received training at the Partnership for Peace (BIO) Center in Turkey, according to World Bulletin.
Turkish National Defense Minister, Vecdi Gonul, met Tuesday with Defense Minister of Ukraine Yuri Yekhanurov.
"We are thankful to Turkey for facilitating the participation of Ukraine in BLACKSEAFOR Exercise," Ukrainian Defense Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov noted.
"We pay high attention to training Ukrainian officers in Turkish military schools and vice versa. We would request from the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) to share its NATO experiences with Ukraine," Yekhanurov said.
"This is important for the Ukrainian military, a military that aims to reach NATO standards," Yekhanurov said.
Answering a question from a journalist, Vecdi Gonul stressed that, to date, around 600 Ukrainian soldiers received training at the Partnership for Peace (BIO) Center in Turkey.
"In addition, 63 Ukrainian officers received education at Turkish military schools," Gonul also said.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov paid a visit to Gonul in Ankara on Tuesday.
Yekhanurov was welcomed to the Turkish Ministry of National Defense with a military ceremony.
Speaking to reporters prior to his meeting with Yekhanurov, Vecdi Gonul said that "the Black Sea unites both countries."
"The peoples and state policies of Turkey and Ukraine are identical to each other," Gonul said.
"Yekhanurov`s current visit to Turkey would boost our existing excellent relations. The trade volume between Turkey and Ukraine has reached six billion USD. More than half a million Ukrainian tourists visit Turkey each year," Gonul stressed.
"Turkey acted jointly with Ukraine in many foreign policy matters to date. Turkey and Ukraine cooperate in Black Sea policies of BLACKSEAFOR (Black Sea Naval Cooperation Task Group) and BLACK SEA HARMONY (a naval operation initiated by Turkey in March 2004 in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions 1373, 1540 and 1566 aimed at deterring terrorism and asymmetric threats worldwide)," Gonul underscored.
"Ukraine is a country with advanced industry and defense sector. During Yekhanurov`s current visit to Ankara, we would discuss ways to promote our military and defense sector relations," Gonul said.
Guest Minister Yekhanurov said that he was pleased to see the sincere and warm welcome to Ankara.
"We have really felt that we are in a friendly country in Turkey," Yekhanurov said.
"During our talks today, we would evaluate past relations and discuss what could be done in the future," Yekhanurov said.
