* Photo: Ministry of National Defense
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The Ministry of Interior has dismissed the administrative board of the Retired Military Officers Association of Turkey (TESUD).
It was alleged by the Ministry of National Defense that the TESUD "condemned the declaration released by 104 retired admirals", which has come to be known as the 'Montreux declaration'. However, the association rejected the allegations that it condemned the declaration.
Shortly afterwards, the Ministry of Interior launched a probe against the association. With this recent decision, TESUD Chair retired General Namık Kemal Çalışkan as well as the other administrative board members of the association have been removed from office.
Releasing a statement about the issue, the Ministry has said that "with their recent statements, the association executives are seen to support the declaration released by 104 retired admirals and their statements have similarities to the declaration of the retired admirals."
It has noted that the investigation launched by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the retired admirals' declaration as per the Article 316/1 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) is still ongoing.
"Following the TESUD administrators' statement of support for the declaration of 104 retired admirals, Chief Inspectors and Associations' Auditors were assigned by our Ministry on April 8," the Ministry of Interior has said and shared the following information about the result:
"The report prepared by the inspectors and auditors following the examination was delivered to the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office for the judgement and execution of the legal proceedings as per the relevant articles of the TCK no. 5237 and the general provisions.
"Moreover, the Administrative Board Chair and the other Administrative Board Members of the Association have been dismissed as a temporary precaution by the approval of the Ministry as per the Article 27 of the Law on Associations no. 5253."
What happened?
After the "Montreux declaration" was released by 104 retired admirals in early April 2021, the TESUD and the the Retired Non-Commissioned Officers Association of Turkey (TEMAD) paid a visit to the Ministry of National Defense and the administrators of both associations met Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar and Chief of General Staff Yaşar Güler.
Releasing a statement after the meeting with TESUD and TEMAD, the Ministry of National Defense said, "The administrators of the association indicated that they condemned the related declaration and said that 'it was an action aimed at undermining our unity and solidarity'."
However, the TESUD also made a statement afterwards and said that "no condemning remarks were used regarding the declaration of retired admirals," with "no condemning remarks were used" written in capital letters.
The statement of the association also indicated that the meeting took place upon the invitation of the Ministry of National Defense. (HA/SD)
