The Prime Minister was responding to comments made by US Central Command Commander Gen. Joseph Votel, who told the Aspen Security Forum meeting in Colorado on Thursday that he was concerned about the number of Turkish military commanders close to the US who had been put in jail as part of the purge. “We’re able to mitigate and deal with instances where we’re unable to fly from certain locations”, he said.
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Both the general staff and the intelligence agency now report to the prime minister’s office. Putting them under the president’s overall direction would be in line with Erdogan’s push for a new constitution centered on a strong executive presidency.
Erdogan said, as quoted by AP. He has denied any involvement.
Almost 16,000 people have been detained over alleged links to the uprising.
“The situation came to a point where local media’s fear of being arrested is leading to an increasing muzzlement of the press, thus infringing fundamental human rights such as freedom of expression and the public’s right to know”, the International Federation of Journalists said. But they have also expressed disquiet over the scale and depth of the purges, fearing that Erdogan may be using them to get rid of opponents and tighten his grip on power.
The media organisations include 16 television stations, 23 radio stations, 15 magazines, 29 publishing houses and 45 newspapers, including a Gulen-linked children’s TV channel and opposition daily Taraf.
Authorities have issued warrants for the detention of 89 journalists in total.
“My concern has to do with the fact that the actions here are very tough and the principle of proportionality is not always central”, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in Berlin on Thursday.
On Thursday, Cavusoglu told local media CNN Turk that ties between Turkey and the USA would be impacted if the US did not hand over Gulen to Turkey. Last week, Pentagon officials said about 100 dependents remained in Turkey.
Turkey has declared a three-month state of emergency, allowing the president and the government to bypass parliament when drafting new laws and to restrict or suspend rights and freedoms.
Mr Erdogan says Mr Gulen lords over a “parallel state” through legions of followers in his secretive organisation, and demands his extradition. But all the while, Erdogan was looking over his shoulder at the military – the one institution in Turkey that could foil his plans.
“Military schools will be shut down…”
However, Erdogan says the armed forces have been infiltrated in recent years by Gulen’s supporters.
Ankara-The Turkish authorities’ pursuit of Fethullah Gulen’s schools is damaging Turkey’s relations with some countries that host schools of “Hizmet Movement” (Service Movement of Gulen), classified by Ankara as a terrorist organization.
Ninety-nine colonels have been promoted to generals and admirals, although Chief of staff General Hulusi Akar – who was held hostage during the coup attempt – stayed in his post along with the heads of the navy, land and air forces.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan standing in front of guards during his visit to the Police Special Operation department’s headquarters in Golbasi district of Ankara.
“We will absolutely bring back that head of Fetullah Organization, the [one] responsible for this coup who is now in the U.S.”, Yildirim said. Speaking to reporters in Ankara, Cavusoglu said the purge of those suspected of being involved in the coup is rendering the Turkish army more efficient.
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Already strained, relations between Germany and Turkey may just have hit another wall.
