US Assistant Secretary of State Philip J. Crowley and Angela Filote, spokeswoman for EU Enlargement Commissioner Štefan Füle, took the floor to analyze the recent developments in the country with regard to the detentions of high-ranking military officers on charges of playing a part in the “Sledgehammer” plot, which included plans to bomb mosques during Friday prayers and down a Turkish jet and put the blame on Greece to discredit the government.
Seventeen retired generals, including former naval and air force commanders, four admirals as well as 27 military officers of various ranks and a noncommissioned officer were detained on Monday as part of an investigation into the Sledgehammer coup plot, one of a series of such plans exposed in the last couple of years in the country. Seven of those detained, including two admirals on active duty, were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly plotting to topple the civilian administration.
Crowley answered reporters’ questions in Washington, D.C., during a daily press briefing. Asked whether the US had any information regarding secret coup plans allegedly prepared by Turkish military commanders, Crowley lent his support to the investigation. “Obviously, we’re aware of what has transpired in Turkey, and we want to see this proceed in a transparent process in accordance with Turkish law,” he underlined. In the previous press briefing on Monday, Crowley had already told reporters that the US did not have any specific concerns over the fact that top commanders were being detained and interrogated for their alleged links to such subversive plots.
Filote rather noted the significance of the news coming from Turkey regarding the alleged coup plots just as Füle had done earlier. She said the allegations are “a serious matter of concern,” and called for an exemplary and fair trial. “Turkish citizens are entitled to hear the entire truth on these cases. That’s why the investigation must be exemplary and carried out in full respect of the principles and standards of a fair judicial process,” Filote stated. Speaking at the Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission meeting in Brussels on Monday, Füle had labeled the allegations of some officers’ intentions to stage a coup worrisome and underlined Turkish citizens’ right to be informed about all the realities concerning alleged coup plots.
