242 Turkey and the World
 
Turkey and the World 243  
 
   
 
 
  
  
  Protecting Turkey’s rights and interests in Cyprus, the fundamental pillar of Turkey’s security in Eastern Mediterranean,  
 

As can be seen, the security parameters in the geography where Turkey is located are quite different from those which form the security strategies of other countries.

 
The other important component of Turkey’s security strategy is related to collective security, in other words, active participation in NATO, OSCE, other international organiza-tions and regional formations as well as the fulfillment of international commitments. Another important component is preparedness, in other words, making sure that the Turkish Armed Forces are ready to act in accordance with diplomatic, economic and other crisis management measures. For this reason, the fundamental principle is to intervene in crises as soon as possible and, if possible, at the initial stage.
 
Since Turkey traditionally attaches great importance to the preservation of peace in the world, it has taken part and continues to take part in a myriad of operations to this end. The Turkish Armed Forces have participated actively in the operations in Korea, Somalia, Albania, Macedonia and other countries within the scope of the Peace-Keeping Operation. At present, contributing to ALTHEA in Bosnia-Herzegovina, KFOR in Kosovo, ISAF in Afghanistan and peace-keeping operations on the Lebanon-Israel border, Turkey also assumed international observation missions of Iraq-Iran, Iraq-Kuwait, East Timor and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
 

In addition, Turkey actively participates in the humanitarian aid relief, as seen during the Algeria and Hurricane Katrina disasters.
 

Along with operations to safeguard peace, activities of partnership, dialogue and cooperation constitute other indispensable components of Turkey’s defense strategy. In addition to  its bilateral and multilateral cooperation with the

 
 
 
  
 

Balkan, Black Sea, Caucasian, Central Asian, Middle East, African, Far East and Mediterranean countries, Turkey supports and actively participates in the activities of partnership, dialogue and cooperation carried out within the scope of the Euro Atlantic Partnership Council, Partnership for Peace, Mediterranean Dialogue, Ýstanbul Cooperation Initiative, NATO-Russian Federation and NATO-Ukraine relations.

 
 
Turkish Armed Forces: The hierarchy, represen-tation and employment of the Turkish Armed Forces within the Turkish state structure is regulated by the Constitution. According to the Constitution, the office of Commander in Chief is represented in the spiritual entity of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA). The Council of Ministers is responsible to the TGNA for national security and preparation of the armed forces to defend the country. The TGNA also has the authority to declare a state of war and send the Turkish Armed Forces to foreign countries or allow foreign armed forces to be stationed in Turkey.
 
The Turkish Armed Forces are composed of the Land Forces Command, the Naval Command and the Air Force Command, all under the Office of the Chief of General Staff. Meanwhile at times of war, the General Command of Gendarmerie and the Coast Guard Command, functioning under the Ministry of the Interior during peacetime, go under the command of the army and navy, respectively.
 

The Land Forces Command comprises four army commands, a Logistics Command and a Training and Doctrine Command. The Navy Command is organized into the Fleet Command, the Northern Naval Area Command, the Southern Naval Area Command and the Naval Training Command. The Air Force Command includes the First Air Force Command, the Second Air Force Command, Air Training Command and a Logistics Command.

 

The Chief of the General Staff is responsible for the overall command  and  control  and  operational    readiness of  the