BY SEDAT ERGIN
HURRIYET- Recently we heard commanders from the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) make statements and give critical messages. Among them were the farewell speech of Gen. Aytac Yalman, who just stepped down from the helm of the Land Forces Command, as well as Gen. Yasar Buyukanit’s speech and Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok’s message marking August 30 Victory Day.
Gen. Yalman stated that Turkey had made efforts to shape its foreign policy and security policies following the Cold War in line with the wishes of ‘foreign powers.’ Yalman also believes that Ataturk’s principles and revolutions are being discussed under the influence of foreign dynamics. He also cast a very suspicious eye on Turkey’s recent reform process. He called them ‘certain initiatives which are painted as reforms’ and asked whether they could ruin Turkey’s character and national integrity. We can deduce that Yalman means the steps taken in our EU membership bid and public administrative reforms. In this respect, Yalman’s most critical message is this: ‘We should keep our concerns about the regime in the foreground.’ Meanwhile, Buyukanit said that the TSK couldn’t retreat from its mission to protect the regime. These statements indicate that disagreements between Turkey and the EU will gain prominence in the months and years to come. The EU is aiming to limit the army’s role in the regime as much as possible, and the two land forces commanders emphasized their determination to protect the regime.
At this point, the TSK has a dilemma. In spite of all its suspicions, the TSK also has its EU aim. For example, Gen. Ozkok displayed its vision for the EU membership goal, saying, ‘Turkey was able to reach its current state thanks to Ataturk’s concrete goals, ones he determined with his unique foresight, and it has taken important steps towards becoming a prosperous EU member country and reaching modern civilization.’ Clearly, there is a dilemma in the TSK’s simultaneous EU membership goal and its worries about possible problems as a result of it.