41.   Turkey and Israel have bolstered defense ties with a series of cooperation agreements last year, including a joint military training agreement heavily criticized by Iran and Arab countries.

42.   While praising good defense ties between Singapore and Australia, Downer urged the two to continue their cooperation.

43.   A Singapore Armed Forces delegation visited Vietnam in July following the establishment of bilateral defense ties in March.

44.   Top Philippine and US military officials are to meet here to review defense ties between the two countries, an armed forces spokesman said Wednesday.