Turkey's Top Soldier To Pay Farewell Visit To Main Opposition Leader

Turkey's Chief of General Staff, Gen. Necdet Özel, will pay a farewell visit to the main opposition leader on July 30 amid an ongoing military campaign against outlawed organizations.

Özel will visit Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP), in his office in parliament, the CHP said in a written statement July 29. Özel's four-year mandate will end in August, and the general is expected to be replaced by current Land Forces Commander Gen. Hulusi Akar.

Military appointments will be finalized at the annual Supreme Military Council meeting under the leadership of President Tayyip Erdoğan.

According to reports, Özel will hand over his position to his successor on Aug. 14 although general custom is to hold the handover ceremony at the end of August. This was requested by Özel due to personal reasons, the press said, recalling that the top soldier took two weeks off in spring because of health problems. - Ankara