Basbug urges media not to drag military into politics

Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Başbuğ yesterday met with leading media representatives at General Staff headquarters. Deputy Chief of the General Staff Gen. Hasan Igsız and Media and Public Relations Department head Gen. Metin Gürak were also in attendance. The meeting focused on the Turkish Armed Forces' (TSK) communication and media strategies, and Basbug also spoke about current events. Saying that the TSK would hold weekly press conferences to tell reporters about the army's views, and added, "We will keep communication channels with the media open for twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week." He said defense reporters would play an important role in this process. Basbug urged reporters and editors not try to get the army embroiled in political debates, adding that this is a very sensitive point. He said that no one should try to use the army to further political ends. Stating that the current restrictions on the TSK access of some media organizations will continue, he said, "We are open to constructive criticism but opposed to biased, tendentious and false media coverage against the army. We will be very careful about security issues and preventing leaks." Asked about the army's "e-memorandum" of April 2007 on the then-looming presidential elections, Basbug said, "The army's stance on the main principles of the republic is clear. It doesn't change." Touching on Turkey's relations with the European Union, Basbug said the full EU membership goal carries great importance for Turkey, and urged the Union to treat Turkey 's accession the same as other candidate countries. "If the EU fails to give access to Turkey, then it will lose strategic influence in the Balkans and the world," he warned. Commenting on a recent visit of a serving general to two retired generals under arrest as part of the Ergenekon probe, Başbuğ said this had been a mere courtesy call and show of personal loyalty. He dismissed claims that the visit would affect the judiciary's decision on the probe, saying this insulted the courts. Basbug also said that he expected that the government's motion enabling cross-border operations into northern Iraq would be extended.