Yaşar Büyükanıt
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General Mehmet Yaşar Büyükanıt [1] (b. September 1, 1940) is the 25th and current Chief of the Turkish General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces, since August 28, 2006. He succeeds General Hilmi Özkök in this post.
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[edit] Biography
General Yaşar Büyükanıt was born in Istanbul on September 1, 1940 into a jewish family which converted to islam. He graduated from the Turkish Military Academy in 1961 as an infantry officer. After graduating from the Infantry School in 1963, he served in different units of the Turkish Army as a Platoon and Commando Company Commander until 1970.[2]
Following his graduation from the Army Staff College in 1972, he served as the Chief of Operations at the 6th Infantry Division, as an instructor at the Army Staff College, as the Chief of the Intelligence Division Basic Intelligence Branch Forces and Systems Section at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium, as the Section and then Branch Chief of the General-Admiral Branch at the Turkish General Staff (TGS) Headquarters, as the Commander of Kuleli Military High School and of the Presidential Guard Regiment.[2]
After graduating from the NATO Defence College, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in 1988. He served as the 2nd Armored Brigade Commander and then as the Chief of Intelligence Department at AFSOUTH Headquarters in Naples, Italy.[2]
Having been promoted to rank of Major General in 1992, General Büyükanıt served as the Secretary General of the Turkish General Staff and then as the Superintendent of the Turkish Army Academy. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General in 1996 and served as the 7th Army Corps Commander until 1998, after which he became the Chief of Operations of the TGS.[2]
In 2000, he was promoted to the rank of General and served as the Deputy Chief of TGS until 2003. He later served as the Commander of the First Army. General Büyükanıt was later appointed as the Commander of the Turkish Army in 2004. He assumed the Command of the Turkish Armed Forces on August 28, 2006.[2]
General Yaşar Büyükanıt is married to Filiz Büyükanıt and has a daughter. General Büyükanıt speaks English as a foreign language.[3]
[edit] Political controversies
General Yaşar Büyükanıt is considered tough on terrorism and a staunch defender of secularism. In his speech at the commencement of the academic year at the Turkish Military Academy on October 2, 2006, which was interpreted as a "harsh salvo" in Turkish media[4][5], Büyükanıt expressed support for secular values and outlined a hard stance against the PKK. Büyükanıt also asserted that certain EU and NATO-allied countries have intentionally allowed terrorist organizations acting against Turkey, to base and run operations in their own territories, inconsistent with Turkey’s relations and alliance with those countries.[6][7]
The Turkish military published a statement on 27 April 2007, two days before the second Republic Protest, as the 2007 presidential election was ongoing. This statement warned against Islamic fundamentalism, which was alleged to pose a threat to the secular Republican nature of the Turkish state.[8] The eventual election of Abdullah Gül, of the Islamic-rooted AKP, have led to media uncertainty about a possible rift between the Turkish military and the presidency.[9]
[edit] Decorations
- Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Honor
- Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Distinguished Courage and Self-Sacrifice
- Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Distinguished Service
- United States Armed Forces Legion of Merit
- Italian Armed Forces Medal of Merit
- Pakistani Medal of Nishan-e-Imtiaz[2]
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ His second name, Yaşar, a popular Turkish name which literally means "he who lives on, he who lives through", is the one that is more commonly used, as is often the case in Turkey. His surname, a combination of the words "Büyük" (great, big) and "Anıt" (monument as in Anıtkabir or -idiomatically- deed) can be taken to mean "great deed".
- ^ a b c d e f Official Website of Turkish General Staff
- ^ NATO Biographies: Commander of the Turkish Armed Forces
- ^ Milliyet İnternet - Ana Sayfa
- ^ Akşam Gazetesi - Paşa kızdı
- ^ Hürriyet - İrtica tehdidi var önlem alın
- ^ http://www.tsk.mil.tr/bashalk/konusma_mesaj/2006/2006_2007harpakegitimogretimyiliaciliskonusmasi.htm
- ^ Excerpts of Turkish army statement, BBC News.
- ^ Generals won't join Gül's first reception, Turkish Daily News.
[edit] External links
- Yaşar Büyükanıt's biography at the Turkish General Staff website
- (Turkish) Milliyet.com.tr - Görevimin uzaması haysiyet kırıcı olur
- (Turkish) Hurriyet.com.tr - Asıl hedef Büyükanıt'tı
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Hilmi Özkök |
Chief of the General Staff of Turkey Agu 28, 2006–present |
Succeeded by incumbent |
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