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Turkish General Willing to Expand Security Forces Beyond Kabul
Tuesday, July 23, 2002
(16:46 UTC)
By Akbar Ayazi
Voice of America

General Zorlu said Turkey wants to show the world community that it is in the fight against terrorism.

WASHINGTON -- VOA
The commander of the International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) in Afghanistan, Turkish General, Hilmi Akin Zorlu, said if the U.N. Security Council and international community call on ISAF, it will expand its operation beyond Kabul to other parts of Afghanistan.

U.N. General Secretary Kofi Annan and his special envoy to Afghanistan, Lakdar Brahimi, have both expressed concern about the security situation in Afghanistan. They have urged the expansion of the ISAF operation from Kabul to other parts of the country.

ISAF commander Major General, Hilmi Akin Zorlu said the unit's mandate is to provide security just in the capital and the surrounding areas. But he told VOA if the international community decides to expand the mission, ISAF will take the task.

"If the International community decides to do that, they should do that through the U.N. Security Council and it requires much more funding and much more troops for expanding the area of responsibilities of ISAF," he said.
(More: VOA News Source)
2002 © Voice of America.

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