Top leaders call for restraint to protect state institutions

In the wake of this week's detentions and arrests of former senior military officers over alleged involvement in a coup plot, President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug met for three hours at the Cankaya Presidential Palace yesterday to discuss ongoing developments, with Gul aiming to ease rising tension over the coup probe. "Issues of recent discussion were dealt with at the meeting," said a statement released after the meeting, which was reportedly held at Gul's suggestion. "Our citizens should rest assured that these issues will be solved within the framework of constitutional order and the law. It was also underlined that everybody should act responsibly in this process in order not to harm state institutions." Speaking to reporters afterwards, Erdogan called the meeting positive, but did not go into details. Asked about his government's plans to reform the Constitution, Erdogan said that their work on that project is continuing. In related news, receiving a delegation led by Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM) head Mehmet Buyukeksi following his meeting with Erdogan and Basbug, Gul reportedly signaled that necessary harmony was achieved among state institutions. The dialogue between state institutions is going well and will improve in the future, Gul reportedly said, urging his visitors to focus on boosting Turkey's exports.