RUBEN SAFRASTYAN: MILITARY COUP UNLIKELY IN TURKEY

PanARMENIAN.Net
23.02.2010 14:56 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ What’s happening in Turkey now is a struggle between
Kemalists and Islamists, according to professor Ruben Safrastyan,
director of the Institute of Oriental Studies at RA Academy of
Sciences.

"A military coup is unlikely in Turkey, though the authority
of the army was shaken," prof. Safrastyan said when answering a
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter’s question during a news conference in
Yerevan on Tuesday. "It’s hard to make forecasts, but the latest
developments may affect Ankara’s vision of normalization of relations
with Armenia. Besides, if internal tensions persist, the United States
may avoid pressing for ratification of the Armenian-Turkish Protocols."

Turkey’s once all-powerful military is facing the biggest challenge
to its authority in decades after 49 senior officers were detained
on accusations of plotting to topple the country’s Islamist-rooted
government in a violent coup.

A former deputy chief of the army, a retired air force chief, the
chief of the navy and several generals and admirals were among those
detained by police in a sweep carried out in eight Turkish cities. The
round-up included 17 retired generals, four serving admirals and 27
lower-ranking officers.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress