Türkiye’s Supreme Military Council convenes in capital

By Diyar Guldogan

Türkiye’s Supreme Military Council on Thursday gathered at the presidential complex under the chairmanship of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the capital Ankara.

The closed-door meeting sets the agenda for Türkiye’s military and typically deals with promotions, dismissals, and other staffing decisions.

Before the meeting, the council members visited Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Turkish Republic.

Erdogan wrote in the mausoleum’s memorial book that despite the conflicts and tensions in its surroundings, Türkiye continues to be the center of attraction in its region.

"We are making intense effort in every field to build the Century of Türkiye that we promised our nation and to deliver a more prosperous, more prestigious and peaceful country to the next generations.

"Our greatest source of strength and confidence in this struggle is our Turkish Armed Forces, which is the apple of our nation's eye with its high sense of duty, deterrence and superior ability. Hopefully, we will strengthen our army with the decisions we will take at our council meeting today," he added.

Among the top officials attending the closed-door council meeting are Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz, Defense Minister Yasar Guler, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek, Education Minister Yusuf Tekin, Land Forces Commander Musa Avsever, Naval Forces Commander Ercument Tatlioglu and Air Forces Commander Atilla Gulan.

After then-Chief of General Staff Gen. Guler was named as the national defense minister, Avsever was appointed the acting Chief of General Staff while retaining his current post.

Decisions taken at the meeting, including appointing new Chief of General Staff, are set to be announced later.