In all, the council decided the careers of about 100 officers. The terms
of 54 generals and admirals were extended for one year.
An exception was Col. Dursun Cicek, the purported author of a military
plan that sought to overthrow the ruling pro-Islamic Justice and Development
Party. YAS, despite a military recommendation, turned down Cicek's promotion
to admiral. Another senior officer linked to the alleged coup plot, Turkish
Navy Capt. Levent Gorgec, has been appointed admiral.
"Cicek could not be promoted to the rank of admiral because there are no
vacant positions," the council said.
On Aug. 4, YAS ended a four-day meeting that decided on appointments and
military policy. The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Recep Erdogan, named
the new heads of the air force and navy.
The council decided to appoint Vice Adm. Esref Ugur Yugit as the new
navy commander. Yugit, scheduled to enter his new post on Aug. 30 replaced
Turkish Navy commander Adm. Metin Atac.
Turkish Air Force commander Gen. Aydogan Babaoglu has been succeeded by
Gen. Hassan Aksay. The appointment would also take effect at the end of
August.
Gen. Bekir Kalyoncu was appointed chief of staff of Turkey's Land Forces
Command. Government sources said this would place Kalyoncu in the running to
become the military's chief of staff over the next decade.
The sources said the appointments would pave the way for Land Forces
commander Gen. Isik Kosaner to become the next chief of staff in 2010. They
said Kosaner could be succeeded by Gen. Necdet Ozel in 2013 and Kalyoncu in
2017. Chief of Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug as well as Kosaner were expected to
leave their posts next year.
YAS said the commander of the 1st Army, Gen. Ergin Saygun, would also
retire, replaced by Gen. Hassan Igsiz. The council cited an age limit for
service for Saygun's departure.
Another promotion was that of Gen. Aslan Guner as the new deputy chief
of staff. Guner had been commander of the 1st Army.
The council said three unidentified officers were dismissed from the
military for alleged links to Islamic groups.
