Weekly news magazine Nokta published a diary last month which it said belonged to retired Adm. Özden Örnek, outlining two separate plans to overthrow Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government in 2004. Örnek denied the diary belonged to him.“Everyone should act with a sense of responsibility. We have a country, we have a nation,” Özkök told the Anatolia news agency, his first public comments on the issue. “The retired admiral says he did not do it. This is what we should give credence to. But the other side insists on its argument, so that should be respected, too.”
Özkök was chief of general staff when the alleged coup attempts took place. In the diary Örnek accused Özkök of acting passively against the government and said the planned steps could not be put into motion because of a lack of support from Özkök.
Özkök said he would not comment on the issue, which has now become a matter for judicial investigation, and said he would “make a better contribution” by remaining silent. “Whatever I say, it would be tantamount to pouring fuel on the fire. It will be said when the time comes. Countries, for instance, open their archives after a certain time. This is the case because timing is crucial for national interests. When the time comes, [the diary] may be disclosed, by me or by others,” he said.
Özkök also explained that it might not be beneficial for a former chief of general staff to make such key announcements after retirement.
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