BY FIKRET BILA
MILLIYET- Top commanders of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) yesterday participated in a panel commemorating the 80th anniversary of the abolition of the caliphate and the establishment of the educational union. Among the participants were Land Forces Vice Adm. Ozden Ornek, Gendarmerie General Commander Gen. Sener Eruygur, Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug, General Staff General Secretary Gen. Sukru Sarisik, Land Forces Staff Chief Gen. Fethi Remzi Tuncel and Operations HQ Chief of General Staff Lit. Gen. Metin Yavuz Yalcin, along with their wives. Obviously, this scene carried great significance because it showed that there is a ‘unity of opinion and action’ among the force commanders. In this respect, the TSK was sensitive to the atmosphere.
Generally we’re used to seeing the commanders as a group in activities on official platforms, but this was the first time they appeared on a panel organized by non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Their participation as a group will be interpreted from a variety of angles. Something else important was that a declaration of ‘national consensus’ was announced under the title, ‘An Invitation to National Awakening and Unity.’ The commanders applauded this declaration. Was this applause merely polite or were they showing their agreement with its content? Obviously the commanders’ participation at this panel will reverberate both nationally and internationally. People will connect it to many current issues and the ruling party’s approaches. Some will question if it’s the beginning of a new era, and if this will continue.