Kamil Pasha

Former Chief of General Staff retired Gen. Hilmi Özkök was the target of a planned assassination, which was prevented when the US Secret Service discovered the plans, a newsweekly reported this week.
According to the newsweekly Yeni Aktüel, in the year 2003 a rift between top army generals arose over their differing stances on the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government. In this period, hawkish Naval Commander Adm. Özden Örnek and Air Force Commander Gen. Ibrahim Firtina became closer to Gendarmerie Commander Gen. Sener Eruygur, now under arrest on charges of having plotted a coup. All those involved have since reached the ends of their terms in office.

The assassination of Gen. Özkök in February 2004 was among the group’s plans, but the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) warned Ankara of the plans on Feb. 3, 2004, Yeni Aktüel claims. The routes used by Özkök in his daily activities were changed after the warning, and security measures were greatly intensified.

The newsweekly also reported that after Özkök became aware of the assassination plan, he had gendarmerie headquarters meetings between the involved generals secretly recorded on video. Yeni Aktüel claims Özkök called Eruygur into his office at the General Staff headquarters and showed him a recording of a meeting Eruygur had organized to plan a coup.

Eruygur was reportedly shocked to see that his “secret” meeting had been taped and reacted by saying, “My headquarters betrayed me!” Özkök then reportedly reminded Eruygur that he had committed a crime punishable by law. All high-ranking officials in the Gendarmerie Forces were assigned to positions outside the capital after this incident. (to read rest of article, click here)

Photo shows retired general Hilmi Özkök speaking to PM Tayyip Erdogan during an official ceremony.  Photo from Today’s Zaman.

Tags: Deep state/Ergenekon, Politics //