ANKARA (AA) – Turkish Deputy PM Bulent Arinc said on Monday that long-term military service was cut to 12 months from 15 as of Jan. 1, 2014.
Speaking after the Council of Ministers meeting, Arinc said current conscripts were set to complete 12 months of service before or on Jan 1, 2014 would be discharged on that date.
-Release of Turkish pilots
Pointing out theTurkish pilots, who were released on Saturday after being abducted in Lebanon on August 9, Arinc said that release of the two Turkish pilots was really rejoicing.
Arinc said that Turkish pilots have been rescued through the power of Turkey and the power of diplomacy.
"For this reason, we have been proud of taking the bows both from the families of the pilots and from the public opinion of Turkey," said Arinc.
- Geneva-II Conference
Replying a question about Geneva-II Conference, Arinc said that Turkey supported holding the conference, if the conference would meet the purposes and a concrete result would come out of it.
