On Thursday, the Supreme Military Council had held a meeting under the chairmanship of Yildirim in Ankara, which chose to keep Gen. Hulusi Akar as Turkey’s chief of general staff.
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Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during an event in Ankara late Friday to honour those killed and wounded during the failed July 15 military coup. The top-level military meet.
(AP Photo/Ali Unal). Turkey’s Prime Minister Binali Yildirim attend a ceremony with the Supreme Military chiefs at Ataturk’s mausoleum in Ankara on July 28, 2016.
On July 25, Yeni Safak claimed that retired US Army General John F. Campbell, the former commander of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces in Afghanistan, was behind the foiled coup attempt.
On Thursday, Votel said at a public forum that he was anxious about “longer-term” impacts from the failed coup on counter-terrorism operations and the United States’ relationship with the Turkish military.
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. Almost 1,700 military personnel received dishonorable discharges over their alleged role in the July 16 putsch, including around 40 percent of Turkey’s admirals and generals.
European Union officials have said the accession talks will be suspended immediately, if the Turkish government reintroduces the death penalty. The council, which decides on promotions and retirements, was expected to announce more dismissals on Thursday. Two generals resigned as the meeting convened.
Turkey on Thursday warned the ex-Soviet state of Kyrgyzstan over the risk of a coup by followers of the US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen, saying they had infiltrated every state institution in the country.
Around a third of Turkey’s roughly 360 generals were detained, and more than 100 of them have already been charged pending trial.
Tens of thousands of state employees have also been dismissed for alleged ties to Mr Gulen, while schools, dormitories and hospitals associated with his movement have been closed down.
The country’s foreign minister Melvlut Cavusoglu says almost 90 employees of his ministry have been let go for their potential connection to the coup.
This post was syndicated from Vanguard News.
Authorities issued arrest warrants for 42 journalists earlier this week and on Wednesday issued another 47 for former Zaman staff. He has also gone after the media, shuttering dozens of outlets and detaining scores of journalists.
Turkey considers Gulen’s movement a terrorist organization. The U.S. has told Turkey to present evidence against Gulen and let the U.S. extradition process take its course.
“Without doubt”, Cemil Ertem wrote in the Milliyet newspaper, Turkish efforts to resolve regional conflicts and fix relations with Russian Federation triggered the coup attempt.
“Some judges and prosecutors with ties to the Gulen movement have fled to Germany”. “Yes, I think some of them are in jail”, Votel said.
On Thursday, at least 500 demonstrators – Turkish media gave varying estimates on their numbers – were at the gates of Incirlik burning USA flags and demanding an end to the US presence.
Western governments and human rights groups have expressed concern over the scale of the purges, fearing the President may be using them to get rid of opponents and tighten his grip on power. “Instead of channelling the overwhelming support [the Turkish government] has received from across the political spectrum to unite the nation, the government is exploiting a failed coup to silence the critical press when Turkey most needs pluralistic media”.
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“In a constitutional state, and this is what worries me and what I am following closely, the principle of proportionality must be ensured under all circumstances. We will not play your game!” said Erdogan.
