• 10 retired admirals detained over public criticism of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ambitious Istanbul canal project
• Cem Gurdeniz, one of the proponents of Turkey’s contested “Blue Homeland” maritime defense concept, is among the admirals detained over the so-called “Montreux letter”

Arab News

ANKARA: Political upheaval in Turkey intensified on Monday on the eve of crucial talks with senior EU figures following the detention of 10 retired admirals over public criticism of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ambitious Istanbul canal project.

The fallout from the row — the latest in a series of damaging controversies — will add to the concerns of European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen ahead of their meeting with Erdogan in Ankara on Tuesday.

The talks are widely viewed as an attempt to repair strained relations between Turkey and the bloc.

Arrest warrants were issued on Monday a day after 104 former senior navy officials signed an open letter warning that the proposed canal, which will create a new waterway from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, could damage Turkish security by invalidating the Montreux convention, an 85-year-old international treaty designed to prevent militarization of the Black Sea.

The government and the presidency reacted angrily to the former naval officials’ claim, insisting that the statement revealed a military plot to overthrow the leadership.

Arrest warrants for 14 of the signatories were issued, while 10 retired admirals were detained after being accused of “conspiring against state security and constitutional order.”

The retired admirals had their rights to public housing and bodyguards removed as part of the government’s decision.

During the investigation, the former admirals were reportedly asked about the preparation of the statement and whether they were aware of the time it was due to be released.

Cem Gurdeniz, one of the proponents of Turkey’s contested “Blue Homeland” maritime defense concept, is among the admirals detained over the so-called “Montreux letter.”

A total of 910 associations, 408 foundations, 27 universities, 114 chambers, 550 trade unions and 46 federations from 81 provinces filed a criminal proceeding against the admirals’ declaration.

However, a group of former deputies also released a statement on Monday urging the government to maintain the 1936 Montreux convention, which they said is strategically important for the country’s maritime security and sovereignty.

This was the third open letter since the statement published by 126 former envoys on April 1.

“The core tenets of our republic cannot be discussed. Montreux can’t be opened for debate,” the former deputies’ statement said.

They also condemned the detention of the retired admirals over their criticism of Erdogan’s canal plan, warning: “We remind the government that we are still a state of law.”

Turkey’s military has long acted as guarantor of the country’s secular order and has staged several coups in the past.

Following the most recent failed coup attempt in July 2016, hundreds of thousands of military personnel were dismissed.

Rich Outzen, a senior US Army adviser and member of the State Department policy planning staff, said in a tweet that he is dismayed by Turkey’s latest political crackdown.

“I have no doubt most of the signers oppose the canal project on principled grounds and are sincerely concerned about Turkey’s Montreux convention rights,” he said.

“On the other hand, publishing a policy challenge as a group of retired general officers/flag officers rather than as individual commentators or members of political opposition parties raises some very bad memories in Turkey’s collective consciousness. If their goal was to strengthen the incumbent government by raising the spectre of old coups and coup attempts, the AKP is exceptionally agile in moments like this.”

However, opposition politicians believe the latest declarations will give Turkey’s government an excuse to criminalize anyone who opposes the Istanbul canal project.

“The retired admirals have offered the government an opportunity on a gold platter,” said Ali Babacan, leader of the breakaway DEVA Party.

“The government will use it to polarize those who don’t want the canal project and brand them as siding with the conspirators.”

Ahead of Tuesday’s meeting with senior European leaders, an EU official quoted by AFP on Monday said that the success of the talks depends on the Turkish president.

“If Erdogan does not show himself to be cooperative then everything will be blocked,” the official said.