Cevik Bir
Encyclopedia
Çevik Bir was a member of the Turkish General Staff in the 1990s. He took a major part in several important international missions in the Middle East
and North Africa
. He was born in Buca
, İzmir
, in 1939 and is married with one child.
He graduated from the Turkish Military Academy as an engineer officer in 1958, from the Army Staff College in 1970 and from the Armed Forces College in 1971. He graduated from NATO Defense College
, Rome, Italy in 1973.
From 1973 to 1985, he served at SHAPE
, NATO's headquarters in Belgium. He was promoted to brigadier general
and commanded an armed brigade and division in Turkey. From 1987 to 1991, he served as major general
, and then was promoted to lieutenant general
.
After the dictator Siad Barre
’s ousting, conflicts between the General Farah Aidid's party and other clans in Somalia
had led to famine and lawlessness throughout the country. An estimated 300,000 people had died from starvation. A combined military force of United States
and United Nations
(under the name "UNISOM") were deployed to Mogadishu
, to monitor the ceasefire and deliver food and supplies to the starving people of Somali. Çevik Bir, who was then a lieutenant-general of Turkey
, became the force commander of UNISOM in 1993. Despite the retreat of US and UN forces after several deaths due to local hostilities mainly led by Aidid, the introduction of a powerful military force opened the transportation routes, enabling the provision of supplies and ended the famine quickly.
He became a four-star general and served three years as vice chairman of the Turkish Armed Forces
, then appointed commander of the Turkish First Army
, in Istanbul. While he was vice chairman of the TAF, he signed the Turkish-Israeli Military Coordination agreement in 1996.
Çevik Bir became the Turkish army's deputy chief of general staff shortly after the Somali operation and played a vital role in establishing a Turkish-Israel
i entente against the emerging fundamentalism in the Middle East. For being a staunch defender of secularism
in the region, he was awarded the Secularism and Democracy Award of 1997 in Washington, DC.
Çevik Bir retired from the army on August 30, 1999. He is a former a member of the Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa
(ASMEA).
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
. He was born in Buca
Buca
Buca is a district of İzmir Province of Turkey. It is one of the main districts of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality.Buca was one of the preferred settlement areas of İzmir's community of Levantines...
, İzmir
Izmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
, in 1939 and is married with one child.
He graduated from the Turkish Military Academy as an engineer officer in 1958, from the Army Staff College in 1970 and from the Armed Forces College in 1971. He graduated from NATO Defense College
NATO Defense College
NATO Defense College is an international military college for North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries located in Rome, Italy.-History:...
, Rome, Italy in 1973.
From 1973 to 1985, he served at SHAPE
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe is the central command of NATO military forces. It is located at Casteau, north of the Belgian city of Mons...
, NATO's headquarters in Belgium. He was promoted to brigadier general
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
and commanded an armed brigade and division in Turkey. From 1987 to 1991, he served as major general
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
, and then was promoted to lieutenant general
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
.
After the dictator Siad Barre
Siad Barre
Mohamed Siad Barre was the military dictator and President of the Somali Democratic Republic from 1969 to 1991. During his rule, he styled himself as Jaalle Siyaad ....
’s ousting, conflicts between the General Farah Aidid's party and other clans in Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
had led to famine and lawlessness throughout the country. An estimated 300,000 people had died from starvation. A combined military force of United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
(under the name "UNISOM") were deployed to Mogadishu
Mogadishu
Mogadishu , popularly known as Xamar, is the largest city in Somalia and the nation's capital. Located in the coastal Benadir region on the Indian Ocean, the city has served as an important port for centuries....
, to monitor the ceasefire and deliver food and supplies to the starving people of Somali. Çevik Bir, who was then a lieutenant-general of Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, became the force commander of UNISOM in 1993. Despite the retreat of US and UN forces after several deaths due to local hostilities mainly led by Aidid, the introduction of a powerful military force opened the transportation routes, enabling the provision of supplies and ended the famine quickly.
He became a four-star general and served three years as vice chairman of the Turkish Armed Forces
Turkish Armed Forces
The Turkish Armed Forces are the military forces of the Republic of Turkey. They consist of the Army, the Navy , and the Air Force...
, then appointed commander of the Turkish First Army
Turkish First Army
The First Army of the Republic of Turkey is one of the four field armies of the Turkish Army. Its headquarters is located at Selimiye Barracks in Istanbul. It guards the sensitive borders of Turkey with Greece and Bulgaria, including the straits Bosporus and Dardanelles...
, in Istanbul. While he was vice chairman of the TAF, he signed the Turkish-Israeli Military Coordination agreement in 1996.
Çevik Bir became the Turkish army's deputy chief of general staff shortly after the Somali operation and played a vital role in establishing a Turkish-Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i entente against the emerging fundamentalism in the Middle East. For being a staunch defender of secularism
Secularism
Secularism is the principle of separation between government institutions and the persons mandated to represent the State from religious institutions and religious dignitaries...
in the region, he was awarded the Secularism and Democracy Award of 1997 in Washington, DC.
Çevik Bir retired from the army on August 30, 1999. He is a former a member of the Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa
Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa
The Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa was founded on October 24, 2007 by Bernard Lewis and Fouad Ajami . ASMEA is a learned society dedicated to promoting research and teaching in Middle Eastern and African studies, and related fields...
(ASMEA).
Distinctions
- United Nations MedalUnited Nations MedalThe term United Nations Medal refers to one of several international decorations which are issued by the United Nations to the various militaries of the world for participation in joint international military and police operations such as peacekeeping, humanitarian efforts, and disaster relief...
(1994) - US Medal of Merit (1994)
- Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Distinguished Service (1995)
- German Medal of Honor (1996)
- Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Merit (1996)
- United Kingdom Distinguished Achievement medal (1997)
- United Kingdom Distinguished Service medal (1997)
- Jordanian Medal of Istihkak (1998)
- French Medal of MeritMedal of MeritSeveral countries award a military or civil medal called Medal of Merit:* Medal of Merit of the Dominican Woman* Medal of Merit * Medal of Merit * Medal of Merit...
(1999)