If the document is authentic, will pro-coup mentality end?

The document in question is a document in support of Ergenekon, a blow to democracy and treason against the nation's voting preferences. Yet, we also have witnessed a first. Surprisingly, all groups in the country, including the media and political parties, have expressed a common democratic stance. We are not accustomed to this. For instance, Ertuğrul Özkök, the editor-in-chief of the Hürriyet newspaper, has considerably surprised us. Mr. Özkök lent support to Bülent Arınç: "When I read about the document published yesterday in the Taraf newspaper, the first thing that came to my mind was: Could it be that Bülent Arınç was right when he said, ‘I thank God that we did not enter into a war during their term'?" Also, Mr. Özkök and Mr. Oktay Ekşi recalled their erroneous stance against the previous incidents of military labeling efforts.

A similar mobilization in defense of democracy can be observed with politicians as well. Mr. Devlet Bahçeli said, "Whatever its justification or intention is, the Nationalist Movement Party [MHP] will never allow our democracy to be undermined or postponed and will not tolerate such efforts and will always stand up against those who have such intentions," while Mr. Deniz Baykal noted: "The claim was published on Friday, and today is Tuesday. I am disappointed to see that this matter has still not been settled. There must not or cannot be such a document. If it is found that there really is such a document, due action must be taken. And everyone should assess his or her own responsibilities."

The AK Party's stance was also precious. They were determined and unyielding from the beginning. We had seen this stance in their response to the memorandum of April 27, 2007. Yes, there is something new. Perhaps, for the first time in history, we are at the turning point in the relations between the military and civilians or between the General Staff and the government.

There is no confrontation between the government and the military. The outcome of the meeting between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Gen. İlker Başbuğ must be analyzed correctly. Before and after the meeting, the AK Party filed its official complaint about the matter. Resorting to the civil judiciary implies a healthy development for the military. As a matter of fact, the armed forces will not be able escape criticism as long as the matter is investigated by the military judiciary. However, the process must be managed without discrediting the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). The judicial process must be maintained without losing our determination for protecting democracy and without increasing tension. This represents a unique opportunity that we have never had in the past for the promotion of our democracy. The government, the military and the media are going through a real test of democracy. There are two concrete steps.

First, if this document is authentic, then its punishment must be so grave that no one within the TSK will ever fancy conducting a military coup. This punishment is nothing but a purge. All illegal networks must be purged, and radical changes must be introduced to place a priority on the civil authority.

Second, Article 35 of the TSK Internal Service Code must be abolished as it encourages pro-coup soldiers and is in direct violation of the Constitution and the spirit of democracy. As long as this article continues to read, "It is the duty of the armed forces to protect the Turkish homeland and the Turkish Republic as delineated by the Constitution," there will always be the possibility for a coup in this country.