Turkey's Supreme Military Council convenes for promotions and retirements

ANKARA

AA photo

Turkey’s Supreme Military Council (YAŞ) convened for its regular annual meeting on Aug. 3 to discuss appointments and retirements of high-ranking staff officers and generals in the Turkish Armed Forces, as well as for the removal of military personnel from the army. 

The two-day meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, is expected to endorse the appointment of Land Forces Commander Gen. Hulusi Akar as the chief of General Staff, replacing outgoing Gen. Necdet Özel.
Along with Davutoğlu, Özel and Akar, Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül, Naval Forces Commander Adm. Bülent Bostanoğlu, Air Forces Commander Gen. Akın Öztürk, Gendarmerie Forces Commander Gen. Abdullah Atay and deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaşar Güler, as well as other top commanders, were present. 

This year’s annual meeting will observe the end of the terms of four top generals, Özel, Bostanoğlu, Öztürk and Atay. Özel will reportedly hand over his position to Akar on Aug. 14. But the tenures of other Air Force, Navy and Gendarmerie generals could be extended for another term.