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Ilker Basbug takes up official duties as chief of Turkish General Staff Headquarters

29 August 2008 11:29 (UTC +04:00)

Ilker Basbug talked about the principle of secularism and said that a certain segment of Turkish society has concerns about efforts to undermine secularism. "These concerns should be taken into consideration. The fact that religious values are being given heed in our social life today fuels these concerns," he added.

Government officials, as well as Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) President Mehmet Ali Talat, ex-president Rauf Denktash, president of Fenerbahce club Aziz Yildirim, former chief of headquarters Hilmi Ozkok, chairman of NATO military committee Giampaolo Di Paola attended the handover ceremony.

Ilker Basbug was born in the Afyonkarahisar province in Western Turkey in 1943. He is now Turkey’s 26th chief of general staff. He graduated from Turkish Military Academy, Royal Military Academy of England and NATO Defense College. Basbug had also been secretary of Turkish National Security Council. On August 4, 2008, under the decision of Supreme Military Council Basbug was elected chief of Turkish General Staff Headquarters. He is married and has two children.