ANKARA Ñ Turkey's military has held its first meeting with the nation's new
Islamic-oriented leadership.
Officials said Turkey's new prime minister and parliamentary speaker
will hold their first formal discussions with the military General Staff.
They said a delegation led by Chief of Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok will visit
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and parliament speaker Bulent Arinc on Friday.
The formal briefings to the Gulf government began on Wednesday,
officials said. They said senior military officers, led by Gen. Tuncer
Kilinc, briefed several Cabinet ministersMiddle East Newsline reported. Kilinc is secretary-general of
the powerful National Security Council, regarded as the final arbiter of
major political and security decisions.
The military delegation will also include Air Force commander Gen.
Cumhur Asparuk, Land Forces commander Gen. Aytac Yalman, Naval commander
Adm. Bulent Alpkaya and Gendarmerie commander Gen. Sener Eruygur.
Gul will be a member of the council, chaired by Turkish President Ahmet
Sezer. The body is expected to meet over the next few days for the first
time since the Islamic-oriented Justice and Development Party won a
landslide in elections early this month.
The military brass is said to be closely following the discussions and
decisions by the Gul government to determine whether it seeks to change
Turkey's secular tradition. For his part, Gul said his government
does not have a hidden Islamic agenda in plans to impose democratic reforms.
The Gul government has already begun dealing with defense and military
issues. Turkish Defense Minister Mehmet Gonul began talks in France. France
wants to sell Turkey a range of military platforms, including the Leclerc
main battle tanks and armored vehicles.
