Akşener, who arrived yesterday in southern Kahramanmaraş province to attend events for Women's Day today, said she wondered why the General Staff considered itself an addressee of the questions directed to AK Party officials about the sudden withdrawal of troops from northern Iraq. "We asked the questions of the AK Party, but the General Staff deemed itself responsible to answer them," she said. The sudden conclusion of a ground offensive into northern Iraq triggered a controversy between the General Staff and the opposition parties. When the MHP and the Republican People's Party (CHP) persisted with questions over why the cross-border operation was concluded suddenly, the General Staff accused these parties of doing more harm to the Turkish military than the terrorists.
"US Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who visited Ankara last week, said Turkey should withdraw from northern Iraq as soon as possible, and Turkey immediately pulled its troops out. We, as the opposition, asked the AK Party why Turkey did this. But the General Staff interposed itself in the discussion and evinced a strong reaction," said Akşener.
She also noted that Turkey was successful during the offensive. "But operations should continue. The close relation between the ruling party and the military pleases the opposition parties. This cooperation is a good thing. It should continue," she stated.
MAHIR ZEYNALOV
DENİZ ERGÜREL
SEVGİ AKARÇEŞME
PINAR VURUCU
M. EDİB YILMAZ
LAURA MOTH
SİNEM CENGİZ
ABDULLA HAWEZ
ABDULLAH AYASUN
FATMA DEMİRELLİ
ŞULE KULU
E. BARIŞ ALTINTAŞ
ERGİN HAVA
ESRA MADEN