Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi departed to Ankara on an IAF airplane. The said NATO conference is to be headed by his Turkish counterpart, and with the participation of fellow military chiefs and other figures.
During the visit, General Ashkenazi is expected to hold several meetings with his Turkish counterpart, General Ilker Basbug, and with the Turkish Minister of Defense, Mr. Vecdi Gonul. Prior to the meeting, an official ceremony will take place in the Ministry of Defense, welcoming Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi, and with the participation of a Turkish military honor guard.
Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi will visit and lay a flower bouquet in the mausoleum honoring Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Known as the "Father of the Turkish Nation" and founder of the Republic of Turkey.
In Addition, The Chief of Staff is expected to attend the official NATO conference dinner, hosted by the Chief of the Turkish Army.
The last visit by an IDF Chief of the General Staff took place in December of 2005, with the visit of Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz.