ANKARA - Turkey`s Land Forces Commander Gen. Ilker Basbug said Wednesday that the "topic of Ergenekon investigation did not come up during my meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on June 24th."
Gen. Basbug`s comments came after certain rumors in the Turkish media that his meeting with Erdogan on June 24th was connected to the Ergenekon investigation.
"I want to declare openly. The comments, implications and evaluations made on my meeting with Erdogan are not real. The topic of Ergenekon investigation did not come up at all during my meeting with Erdogan," Gen. Basbug said.
Speaking to reporters in Ankara, Gen. Basbug said that "we all witnessed certain individuals being taken into custody on Tuesday as part of a probe by a prosecutor in Istanbul."
"I watched with sorrow certain news reports on several tv channels on Tuesday evening and read certain news articles on Wednesday morning claiming a relationship between my meeting with Erdogan on June 24th and the Ergenekon investigation," Gen. Basbug said.
"I want to state clearly that such comments, implications and evaluations are not real. The topic of Ergenekon did not come up at my meeting with Erdogan on June 24th. It was impossible for the matter of Ergenekon to come up at my meeting with Erdogan. Comments, implications and evaluations made can only add up to a conspiracy theory," Gen. Basbug indicated.
"It would be beneficial to ask the creators of such a conspiracy theory this question: Do not such conspiracy theories serve the interests of those trying to hurt the unity and commandership of the Turkish Armed Forces?" Gen. Basbug said.
"Displaying sensitivity for the unity of the Turkish Armed Forces is not only a duty of the members of the armed forces but also those of all people," Gen. Basbug said.
"As Turkey, we are going through tough days. We are obliged to be more responsible and cautious," Gen. Basbug said.
General Basbug reminded that the media must display responsibility on relevant issues.
(SOL-MS)