UPDATE - Turkey announces Supreme Military Council decisions

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS

By Gozde Bayar

ANKARA (AA) – Turkey's presidential spokesman on Thursday announced decisions coming out of the summer Supreme Military Council meeting, as chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

** Addressing a news conference at the presidential complex, Ibrahim Kalin said 14 generals and admirals had been promoted to the next rank. Also, 40 colonels are being promoted to general or admiral as of Aug. 30, he said.

This will take the number of generals and admirals in the Turkish Armed Forces from 241 to 233, he added.

One general will retire on Sept. 1, as he has completed his years of service, while 47 general and admirals will retire as of Aug. 30, as they have not been listed as permanent staff.

** Both Aegean Army Commander Abdullah Recep and Third Army Commander Gen. Ismail Serdar Savas are retiring.

** The terms of duty of Lt. Gen. Metin Gurak, the deputy chief of General Staff, and Lt. Gen. Seref Ongay, commander of the Land Forces Training and Doctrine Command (EDOK), have been extended for another year.

** The terms of office of 12 generals and admirals were extended for one year, while the terms of 313 colonels were extended for two years.

Maj. Gen. Irfan Ozsert was promoted to lieutenant general within the Turkish Land Forces Command, Kalin said.

** Kalin said that five land forces brigadier generals and seven air forces brigadier generals have been promoted to major general, and one naval forces rear admiral has been promoted to rear admiral upper half.

** "We thank the generals, admirals and colonels who will retire after completing their duty with great devotion and honor,” he added.

** He highlighted that the decisions were ratified by President Erdogan.

The Supreme Military Council held its annual summer meeting Thursday at the presidential complex.

The meeting, which sets the agenda for Turkey’s military and deals with promotions, dismissals, and other staffing decisions, lasted for one-and-a-half hours.