Friday, August 1, 2008 Free Headline Alerts
ANKARA — Officials said the Supreme Military Council intends to appoint 115 senior officers during its meeting, which began on Aug. 1.
They said the appointments would reshape the command structure of all services in the military.
"This would be one of the largest reshuffles in the military in years," an official said.
The council began its meeting in wake of a Turkish court ruling that saved the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, from being disbanded on charges of promoting an Islamic state. The military council has been chaired by Prime Minister Recep Erdogan, head of AKP and regarded as leading the drive to reduce the power of the secular military.
Erdogan intends to oversee the retirement of a key foe in the military. Chief of Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, an ardent secularist and pro-U.S. officer, was scheduled to retire on Aug. 30. Buyukanit was expected to be replaced by Land Forces Command chief Gen. Ilker Basbug.
Basbug has also been regarded as a proponent of a secular Turkey. The general was also said to be close to the United States.
The council plans to discuss military appointments until Aug. 4. Officials expect Basbug, who would serve as chief of staff for two years, to be replaced by Gen. Isik Kosaner, commander of the Gendarmerie Forces. The commander of the army has been traditionally promoted to chief of staff.
Kosaner was expected to be succeeded by Gen. Hasan Igsiz, commander of the 2nd Army Corp. Deputy Chief of Staff Gen. Ergin Saygun was expected to be transferred to command the 1st Army Corps. Saygun would succeed Gen. Ismail Kocman, scheduled to retire with Buyukanit.
The current round of promotions would not affect the commanders of the air force and navy. Air Force chief Gen. Aydogan Babaoglu and naval commander Vice Admiral Metin Atac were scheduled to remain in their positions until August 2009.