ANKARA, Oct 27 (AFP) - Turkey's top security body Wednesday held its first meeting under a civilian secretary-general, named to curb military influence in Turkish politics and help align the country's democratic standards with EU norms.
Yigit Alpogan, a former ambassador appointed to the post in August, was the center of attention at a regular meeting of the National Security Council, which brings together the country's top civilian and military leaders.
Only senior generals had served thus far as secretaries-general of the body, a forum the military used to weigh in on decisions concerning key domestic and foreign policy issues, such as Iraq, Cyprus and the fight against Kurdish separatism and Islamist extremism.
Reforms aimed at boosting Turkey's bid to join the European Union have stripped the military wing of the council of its executive powers and put military spending under civilian control.
An October 6 report by the European Commission that declared Turkey ready for EU membership talks noted that "civilian control of the military has been strengthened," but added that the generals continue to exercise influence through "informal channels."
The Turkish army carried out three coups -- in 1960, 1971 and 1980 -- and in 1997 forced the resignation of Necmettin Erbakan, the country's first Islamist prime minister.
The military is officially in favor of Turkey's EU membership bid, although some generals have expressed reservations on some of the reforms sought by Brussels.
10/27/2004 14:25 GMT - AFP