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.
