Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani confirmed the State of Qatar’s standing by Turkey and its willingness to provide any support.
In remarks carried by Turkey’s Anadolu Agency, Erdogan said that HH the Emir was the first leader to call him on the night of the failed coup attempt to provide Qatar’s support to Turkey.
President Erdogan said that some countries’ leaders called him on the next day, congratulating him on the victory over the coup.
Regarding the government’s decision to temporary suspend employees in the public sector, the president said that it was being done by activating judicial mechanisms and within the law, adding that this would continue until the elimination of those involved in the coup.
About the military’s restructuring after the coup attempt, Erdogan indicated that they intended to establish a gendarmerie academy to be a training centre for the elements, pointing out that in the current phase all military hospitals would fall under the health ministry.
Erdogan said that Turkey would shut down military high schools and all cadets would be transferred to regular schools at the military academy.
A National Defence University would be established and it would include army, air force and naval academies, the president said.
Erdogan stressed that the current phase was witnessing a discussion with opposition parties on the possibility of the general staff and the National Intelligence Agency (MIT) to be tied to the presidency through a constitutional package, if the opposition accepted the proposal.
In regard of Fethullah Gulen terrorist organisation, he said that it had a broad network in Western countries, Africa and many places, and there was no terrorist organisation in the world spread around the world like that.
Erdogan said that they were planning celebrations next week in Istanbul for safeguarding democracy that will attract participation from citizens, political leaders, high-ranking military officers, as well as artists and athletes.