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General Nejdet Ozel, appointed as Turkish Land Forces commander, Abdullah Gul signs decree

29 July 2011 21:32 (UTC +04:00)

Commander of Turkish Armed Forces Army General Ishik Kosaner asked to be sent on pension.

For the moment, no reason was given for resignation. However, general Kosaner met with Prime Minister Rajab Tayyib Erdoghan face to face and announced his retirement. Along with Koshaner other three Land, Naval, Air Armed Forces Generals, Erdal Jeylanoghlu, Hasan Aksay, Ughur Yighit asked for retirements as well. CNN Turk quoted the prime ministerâ€™s office as saying the generals were not resigning but going into retirement. State-run Anatolian news agency reported Kosaner as resigning "as he saw it as necessary."
Following the announcement Erdogan met the head of Turkeyâ€™s gendarmerie paramilitary force, General Necdet Ozel, and they subsequently went separately to the presidential palace to meet President Abdullah Gul, fuelling speculation Ozel may be appointed to replace Kosaner. By tradition, the head of the ground forces replaces the armed forces chief when he retires.
While, â€œTurkish commandersâ€™ retirements are home affairs of Turkeyâ€,State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters in Washington. â€œWe have full assurance for Turkish bodiesâ€, added State Department Spokesman. US official emphasized they did not have details of the event so he preferred not to talk too much on this issue.
On August 1, meeting of Supreme Army Council was scheduled. New appointment for Commander of Armed Forces position can be defined at this meeting.