Turkey tries to rebuild confidence in military

Turkey's government took a step on the 4 February 2010 to reassert civilian control of the country's powerful military, acting in the wake of controversy over alleged coup plots that has undermined public trust in the army and put the generals on the defensive.

A joint decision by ministers and the military command has abolished a measure permitting the army to intervene to calm unrest in cities without a governor's request.

The European Union has long pressed Turkey, as part of its candidature for EU membership, to end its armed forces' undue influence in politics.

ESO: Background Information: Turkish trial exposes culture of conspiracy http://www.europeansources.info/record/turkish-trial-exposes-culture-of-conspiracy/

ESO: Background information: The Impact of EU Reform Process on Civil-Military Relations in Turkey http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-impact-of-eu-reform-process-on-civil-military-relations-in-turkey/

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