13 March 2010 / HASAN CEMAL MİLLİYET,
I haven’t seen any prime minister other than [Recep] Tayyip Erdoğan who would challenge the “tutelary system” or the “bureaucratic oligarchy” in our recent political past.
If Erdoğan did not show his political will and determination as a prime minister -- and, of course, if the president were not Abdullah Gül -- it would be impossible to prosecute the Sledgehammer (Balyoz), Blond Girl (Sarıkız) and Ergenekon cases and the subversive generals would not be tried in this country. I would like to underline this. So far so good, but will he maintain his position? Or will he surrender? I know how Erdoğan would answer these questions. “I won’t give up, and I will see it through to the end,” he would say, stressing that he believes that it is his mission to promote democracy. I want to believe it. But I also know that these words cannot be trusted just as promises made in the election rallies can’t. From this perspective, there has been a development concerning the Defense Ministry that should avert any optimism. The 3rd Army commander, Gen. Saldıray Berk, has been indicted on several accusations and between five and 10 years imprisonment has been demanded.
