Tensions between the staunchly secular military and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s government have simmered in the weeks that followed the arrests and sent shivers through financial markets.
There are several plots being investigated, but Gen. Ilker Basbug told Milliyet the investigation into the 2003 “Operation Sledgehammer” was the most serious.
Scores of officers were detained, including the former heads of the navy and air force, in the sweep launched by prosecutors in late February. While the two former service heads were released without charge, more than 30 others were charged.
The alleged actions included provoking a near-conflict with neighboring Greece and planting bombs in an Istanbul mosque.
“The incident is serious and up until now has perhaps had the most important effect on the Turkish Armed Forces,” Basbug told the newspaper without elaborating.
Basbug in the past has spoken of the damaging effect on morale in the military that has resulted from the probes into anti-government plots. But he did not directly criticize the government or investigators in the interview.
Asked about Turkish media reports that commanders had threatened to step down following the arrests, Basbug said: “No, there was definitely nothing like this. It was not discussed, debated or expressed.”
Turkey’s generals have ousted four civilian governments in the last 50 years, but few observers believe they would take such action again, as Turks’ confidence in democracy has grown and the government introduces European Union-inspired reforms.
