The use of the map at a conference meeting by a colonel from the U.S. National War Academy angered Turkish military officers.
Turkish Chief of Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit called the U.S. Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Pace, and protested the incident. U.S. military authorities admitted the mistake, for which they apologized to Turkey.
According to the reports, the incident took place on Sept. 15.
An American colonel who came to the Defense College for a conference began a lecture on technology.
However, a few minutes later he presented a map that showed Turkey as separated, and included an “independent Kurdistan” on Turkish territories.
In reaction to the U.S. colonel’s elaboration on the map, previously characterized by U.S. authorities as not reflective of the American view, the Turkish officers left the conference room.
The Belgian commander of the College was then informed about the incident.
The commander reacted, saying that academic freedom did not mean everybody could say anything he wanted, and cited the incident as unacceptable.
Turkish officers also briefed Ankara about the developments relevant to the incident.
The U.S. State Department assured Ankara that the map did not reflect the official American view, and denounced it as unacceptable.
The new Middle East map, prepared by retired Col. Ralph Peters and published in the Armed Forces Journal in June, had sparked reactions in Ankara.
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