ANKARA - Chief of Turkish General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit said Monday that Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan's adress to nation was recorded on February 27th and many Turkish troops were still in the operation area on such date.
Briefing the media on the cross-border ground operation at General Staff's HQs in Ankara, Gen. Buyukanit commented on the allegations claiming that Erdogan was not informed on the completion of the ground operation.
He said there was coordination and flow of information between the institutions of the state during all phases of the operation.
"The address to nation was recorded on February 27th. A considerable number of Turkish troops were still in the operation area and the activities continued on that date. Therefore, Premier Erdogan's remarks were accurate considering that date. Because, our troops continued to carry out the operation then," Buyukanit said.
"I am nobody's lawyer, but telling the truth is my duty. Mr. Premier was also informed that the operation would be completed gradually," he added.
Buyukanit criticized certain terror experts' attitude on the issue as well.
"When they make thoughtless comments, they raise the public's expectations," he said.