National Security Policy Document to be revised at MGK meeting

If this is improved, it will be an important step in Turkey’s democratization, coming shortly after the abolishment of the controversial Protocol on Cooperation for Security and Public Order (EMASYA). However, the problematic Article 35 of the Internal Service Code of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) will remain untouched, according to analysts’ predictions.

Article 35 of the Internal Service Code has been accused of paving the way for many a military intervention as it includes a clause that allows the military to take control in situations where the elected leaders cannot be trusted. However, this article will not be taken up in this Friday’s MGK meeting. Even so, bureaucrats at the prime ministry are working on a bill that might render the 35th Article ineffective. Once their work is complete, they will submit this to the Cabinet for approval. The government is expected to submit the bill to Parliament after hearing the view of the military.

Another document that empowers the military to an anti-democratic extent, the EMASYA protocol, was abolished in early February. EMASYA’s abolishment has raised hopes that the government will continue its steps to abolish all documents that lay the ground for illegal activities in the country.

EMASYA, which was harshly criticized for allowing the military to conduct operations and gather intelligence in cities without the approval of the civilian administration, was quashed two weeks ago. The controversial protocol was signed by the General Staff and the Interior Ministry on July 7, 1997 and empowered the military to intervene in social incidents on its own initiative. EMASYA gave the military the authority to gather intelligence against internal threats. Although the protocol has been severely criticized by politicians and analysts over the years, it remained in force. EMASYA was believed to be a product of the Feb. 28, 1997 coup, during which the military overthrew the coalition government led by Necmettin Erbakan of the now-defunct Welfare Party (RP). The government has been working on abolishing EMASYA since 2008 when the 3rd National Program for EU harmonization was passed. The EU has also been pushing for its improvement or abolishment. However, some additional legislation related to EMASYA still remains in place, and this Friday’s MGK meeting is likely to abolish that as well.

The MGK meeting is likely to see discussions on revising the MGSB, also known as Turkey’s “secret constitution.” The revision itself is expected to be completed by October of next year. This document lies behind many military interventions as it enables the military to plot against governments. Religious reactionaryism, ethnic separatism and extreme leftist movements are listed as the three most dangerous threats to Turkey’s security in the MGSB. Nationalist and neo-nationalist organizations are also seen as domestic threats. Revisions are normally done every five years, however, this Friday’s meeting is likely to change the document. The “religious reactionaryism” expression will mostly likely be removed from the document from among the domestic threats facing Turkey, but “separatism and extreme left” are expected to remain.

Turkey’s perception of foreign threats has changed drastically since 2003, primarily due to the end of the Cold War. Greece has also lost its standing as a potential danger. Potential foreign threats listed in the MGSB are expected to be updated in line with this. The MGSB currently in force says that Turkey should pursue a non-compromising policy regarding more than 100 islands, over which there are still disputes, in the Aegean Sea. Turkey has plans to remove Greece from the list of foreign threats, but to do that, it is expecting the Greek Parliament to abolish a 1994 law marking May 19, 1919 as a day of genocide against Pontus Greeks, a 1996 law accepting the Armenian killings of 1915 as genocide and the 1998 law declaring Sept. 14, 1922 as the Little Asia Genocide Day.

The MGK will also discuss Turkey’s anti terrorism efforts on Friday. The council will discuss possible difficulties that might come along with the government’s democratization reforms in fighting terrorism and how to deal with these. The MGK is also likely to take up Cyprus, Armenia and EU-related issues.