YAS Meeting Concludes with Promotions, Dismissals

Ibrahim Firtina became Turkish Air Forces commander. Notwithstanding a provision of the seventh European Union harmonization package allowing civilian leadership of National Security Council (NSC), Gen. Sukru Sariisik was named NSC secretary-general, a move which could cause controversy amidst the country’s efforts to comply with the EU political criteria. In related news, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is reported to have placed reservation on a number of dismissals put forward by the military, in a repeat of similar actions by then Prime Minister Abdullah Gul which drew public attention during last December’s meeting.