ContemporaryEurasia9.2 | Page 45

AVETIK HARUTYUNYAN
Ministers of Defense , Internal Affairs and Foreign Affairs , Commanders of Land , Naval and Air Forces and the General Commander of Gendarmerie . 61
In 1983 , the “ Law on the National Security Council and the General Secretariat of the National Security Council ” was adopted . The law addressed issues concerning the organization of activities of the NSC , its responsibilities and competencies . In particular , the NSC was designated as a principal body in defining the national security policy of Turkey ( supposedly also including Turkish foreign policy inasmuch as it was considered as a part of security policy ). 62 A wide scope of authority was granted to the General Secretariat of the NSC , especially related to making necessary assessments , regulating activities and supervising the implementation of decisions of the NSC . 63 It was also specified that the Secretary General of the NSC was to be appointed from a representative of the Armed Forces of Turkey with at least the military rank of General ( Orgeneral in Turkish ). 64
Hence , the formation of the National Security Council in 1961 and significant representation of the military in it provided strong legal guarantees for the participation of the Armed Forces of Turkey in decision-making on issues of security , including those related to foreign policy . Hence , the involvement of the NSC and the military in foreign affairs depended on foreign policy issues related to security . As a result , from 1960-1980 , the role of the military was not yet decisive , and its participation in foreign affairs was mostly limited by the Cyprus issue and relations with Greece . In the 1980s , although the military already had an absolute majority in the NSC , due to the efforts of Prime Minister Özal and his decisive role in regard to many foreign policy issues , including relations with Greece and other neighboring countries , were mostly transferred to the political dimension , thus limiting how much the military could get involved in these processes . However , in the 1990s , the changing security environment in and around Turkey caused by the end of the Cold War and rising problems with many neighboring countries , as well as the increasing military activities of the Kurdistan Workers ’ Party and lack of strong government in Turkey contributed to the significant influence of the NSC and the military in the political life of Turkey ,
61 Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Anayasası 1982 , article 118 . As a result , 6 of 10 members of the National Security Council of Turkey were from the Armed Forces of Turkey . 62 Millî Güvenlik Kurulu , No . 2945 / 1983 , article 4 .
63
Ibid , article 13 .
64
Ibid , article 15 . 45