"I think 80 percent of the countries in Europe have a professional army, " said Oliver Bendt, 42.

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However the talks go, Mr Pastrana must continue his efforts to create a stronger and more professional army.

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The mildly Islamist Justice and Development (AK) party, which has governed Turkey since 2002, plans to deploy a new professional army along the border with Iraq, where the PKK has havens.

ECONOMIST: Turkey and its rebel Kurds