Ertugrul Ozkok: The military's calm and Baykal's storm

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Ertugrul Ozkok: The militarys calm and Baykals storm
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 22, 2007 12:264dk okuma

When I began to write my column yesterday, news of the dinner at Cankaya palace hosted by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer for top commanders of the Turkish military, and their wives, had still not come through. I learned later about this dinner, but decided not to change my column.

I have been watching the Turkish military's official web site since Friday. My eyes were on the lookout for a recent speech made by Commanding General Yasar Buyukanit. What I was really wondering was whether or not that speech would make it onto the military's web site. Buyukanit made the speech I was wondering about last Friday at the Istanbul Military Academy. I had been in Ankara the day before this speech was to be made, and at the time, there was lots of speculation in Ankara about what the content would be. According to some, Buyukanit would use the speech as an opportunity to give the young offices some important messages about protecting the Republic. According to these same sources, this speech would then be "leaked on purpose to the media, thereby allowing the military to affect public opinion." However, the military's General Staff did not place this speech on its web site. And there was no leak to the press about Buyukanit's speech. As far as I have been able to discern, Buyukanit did not take this speech as an opportunity to talk about the upcomgin presidential elections: all he did do was touch on the importance of a secular regime.
 
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But is the current silence of the military's Chief of Staff any guarantee of later silence? That I cannot know. But what I do know is that today's silence is the right thing, and that it should stay this way until the presidential elections. It is written in the Turkish Constitution how the president should be chosen. The current Turkish Parliament has the legitimate power to elect the president. This being the case, I believe any factions which try to prevent this are only inflicting damage.
 
So how is the presidential process going right now? At this point, most of the political figures and organizations are moving according to their responsibilities. Influential Turkish business associations, such as TUSIAD, are avoiding making statements which could cause tension or problems. And this calm process is affecting the economy positively. The economic turbulence being experienced on a global level is not even having a dramatic effect on Turkish markets. So, if Turkey is successful in maintaining this atmosphere through its presidential elections, it will also succeed in making the success its economy is enjoying a permanent factor.
 
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But what about the opposition stance during these elections? Those outside of the CHP are trying to make the atmosphere as tense as they can, and for no reason.....And when it comes to the CHP itself? Deniz Baykal is a giant provocateur. Don't misunderstand; I also want to make it clear the feelings of respect I have for his political skills. As far as I can tell, what Baykal really wants is for Erdogan to become president of Turkey; what else would explain his comments like "the road to Cankaya is steep, you can't climb it with a herniated back"? These comments are so loaded with provocative elements that Baykal's real desire must be to see Erdogan ascend to that seat. Another note I would like to rest it: during a period when the military has elected to remain silent, it is not appropriate for the opposition CHP to speak in their name. And I do not think it befits a party inherited from Inonu to exploit Erdogan's words the way they have done in regards to the "sayin Ocalan" claims. I am sure that neither the CHP nor Baykal, knowing the art of politics as well as they do, have the need for this much rude opposition.
 
One last point: do I think that after last night's dinner at Cankaya between Sezer and the top military members, any of these views will have changed? Absolutely not. I think that the military will continue to approach this delicate period as calmly and tranquilly as they have up until now.
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