Bgd. Gen. (R) E. Haldun SOLMAZTÜRK
PROFILE: Retired (2005) army general. He was born in Istanbul in 1955. Career infantry officer (Class of 1975) with an interest and education in international relations, national security and foreign policy formulation, political-military strategic planning. Knowledge and extensive experience in both policy making and operational planning for national, multinational, and coalition strategic operations in NATO and United Nations (UN) to include the Gulf War, War in Iraq, interventions in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, Hebron (Palestine) and Afghanistan. Participated in operations in Somalia, Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Served two tours in Cyprus for a total of four years and two tours in NATO for a total of four years.
Experience in Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), mainly focusing on disarmament, arms control, verification and confidence-building, particularly in the Regional Arms Control Verification Implimentation Assistance Center (RACVIAC/Zagreb) and in the establishment of multinational the Southeastern European Brigade (SEEBRIG). Took part in Partnership for Peace (PfP) activities in various Balkan countries.
Involved in anti-proliferation concept-development and planning for international cooperation under Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI).
Extensive operational experience in anti-terror operations in urban environment and in the countryside.
Has become a member and/or led numerous Turkish or NATO military or diplomatic delegations to various international conferences/activities in Europe -to include the Russian Federation, and in the United States. Lectured in various institutions in Turkey, U.S. and in Europe on Politico-Military Strategy, International Organizations, Crisis Management, Strategic Planning, Multinational Operations and Arms Control.
Experienced in higher education in Central Asian countries; especially in improving academic quality, strategy development and educational planning, faculty recruitment, international academic cooperation.
EDUCATION AND DEGREES EARNED
2005- PhD Political Science Istanbul Bilgi University TURKEY
1988-1991 M.A. International Relations Boston University U.S.A.
1991-1992 Advance Study in the Turkish Armed Forces College ISTANBUL TURKEY
1983-1985 M.A. Military Science, the Turkish Army College İSTANBUL TURKEY
1972-1975 B.A. the Turkish Army Academy ANKARA TURKEY
LANGUAGES:
Fluent in Turkish (native) and English. Some reading and limited speaking knowledge of French, Russian.
EXPERIENCE IN THINK-TANKS
2008- Senior Fellow, Strategic Research Center of the Retired Officers’ Association of Turkey, ANKARA/TU
2006-2008 Director, Ahmet Yesevi Kazakh-Turkish International University Strategic Research Center (AYSAM) ANKARA/TU
2005-2008 Coordinator, WG on Turkish Foreign Policy and Turkish-U.S. Relations, the Retired Officers’ Association of Turkey, ANKARA/TU
1998-1999 Visiting Fellow,The Washington Institute for Near East Policy WASHINGTON DC
EDITORIAL EXPERIENCE
2006- 2008 Chairman, Editorial Board; ‘bilig’ (Knowledge) Journal of Social Sciences of the Turkic World. ANKARA
2006- 2008 Chairman, Editorial Board; ‘AsyAvrupa’ (Asia and Europe) Forum for Political Science and Strategic Research. ANKARA
INVOLVEMENT IN THE MEDIA
- Political Analist, regularly hosted by Al Jazeera English Tv, the BBC World, BBC World Service, BBC 4 Radio, BBC Turkish Service and Ata Tv (Turkish).
- Interviewed and/or quoted by the Observor, AFP, the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune, VOA, ABC (Australia), BBC Russian Service, ZDF Tv, among others.
- BBC Programme Consultant (on a case-by-case basis)
- Regular guest in ATA Tv (Turkish) political programme ‘Vizyoner (Visionary)’.
RECENT ARTICLES:
Updated: December 16, 2008.