Chief of General Staff Warns: "Hands off the Army"

Chief of General Staff İlker Başbuğ arranged a press conference at the headquarters on Friday (26 June) to speak about the controversial document showing alleged plans to discredit the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the religious movement led by Fethullah Gülen.

The press conference was joined by the commanders of the different forces.

Başbuğ used an angry tone when speaking about the economic crisis, violence in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as the struggle against terrorism in Turkey and meetings with Cyprus.

He then went on to discuss the document, published by the daily Taraf newspaper, which points at plans by the army to discredit the AKP and the Gülen movement.

"A piece of paper"

While the media is still discussing whether the document was signed by marine corps Colonel Dursun Çiçek, the military prosecution has found further investigation unnecessary and has handed the case to the civilian prosecution.

Başbuğ said that "more than enough energy has been spent on a piece of paper" by the military prosecution in the last two weeks.

He added that the preliminary military investigation "states that it is up to the state intelligence organs and relevant judiciary bodies to find out who prepared this piece of paper and why, and this is what we want."

The Chief of Staff criticised the media and others for deciding that "what was declared a document by a newspaper on 12 June" was serious. Because, he said, the Turkish Armed Forces saw themselves targeted, an investigation was carried out "without loss of time".

"Aim is to damage Turkish Armed Forces"

"This was the only and correct thing to do on our side. The investigation was carried out by the General Staff Military Prosecution, which, just like the Chief Public Prosecution carries out independent judiciary procedures guided by constitutional principles."

After again emphasing the care with which the military investigation was carried out, Başbuğ said, "We believe that this piece of paper was prepared by someone in order to damage the Turkish Armed Forces."

He called on the state intelligence services and the judiciary to find out who was responsible.

"Take your hands off"

Referring to media interpretions that have questioned the objectivity of a military investigation into the matter, the Chief of Staff said:

"You may agree or disagree with the decision of the military prosecution, but you cannot belitle it. Such behaviour belittles not the military judiciary but those judging it."

He further warned, "Rumours of coups and memoranda are not well-intentioned and the people are fed up with them. As the commander of the Turkish Armed Forces, I say this clearly: Take your hands off the army. Put an end to the asymetrical psychological operations carried out via the media." (EZÖ/AG)