ahlam1399
08-10-2016, 07:02 AM
WASHINGTON: A Turkish military ******r on a U.S. -based assignment for NATO is seeking asylum in the United States after being recalled by the Turkish government in the wake of last month´s failed military coup, U.S. officials told Reuters.
The asylum bid is the first k**wn case involving a Turkish military ******r in the United States as Turkey purges military
ranks after muti**us soldiers commandeered fighter jets, helicopters and tanks in an unsuccessful attempt to oust
President Tayyip Erdogan.
The case has the potential to further strain ties between the United States and Turkey, which is already demanding
Washington hand over a U.S. -based Turkish cleric it alleges was responsible for the failed coup.
The two U.S. officials, who spoke to Reuters on condition of a**nymity, said the Turkish ******r was working at the
headquarters of NATO´s Allied Command Transformation, located in **rfolk, Virginia.
They did **t name him or offer his rank. However, an official at Turkey´s embassy in Washington said Turkish Navy Rear Admiral Mustafa Ugurlu had failed to report to authorities after Turkey issued a detention order for him last
month.
"On July 22, on that day he left his badges and his ID at the base and after that ** one has heard anything from him," the official said, also speaking on condition of a**nymity.
The Turkish official said he was unaware of a subsequent asylum request. An April news article on the NATO website
identified Ugurlu as the **rfolk-based command´s assistant chief of staff for command and control, deployability and
sustainability.
The Turkish official said two other lower-level ******rs had also been called back from the United States to Turkey.
"But there´s ** detention order for them," the official said.
"One of them has gone back, and the other will go back shortly.
"MILITARY PURGES"
The purges within Turkey´s military, which has NATO´s second largest armed forces and aspires to membership in the European Union, has resulted in thousands of soldiers being discharged, including around 40 percent of generals.
There are concerns within the Turkish opposition that the restructuring lacks parliamentary oversight and is going too
far.
Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis declined comment, referring questions about Turkish military personnel to Turkey.
The **rfolk mission where the Turkish ******r was assigned is the only NATO command in **rth America, according to its website.
It directs Allied Command Transformation´s subordinate commands, including the Joint Warfare Center in **rway and the Joint Force Training Center in Poland.
A spokeswoman at the **rfolk-based mission said 26 Turkish military personnel were assigned there, and she praised Turkey´s contribution, including hosting U.S. and allies at its Incirlik Air Base, an important staging area for the U.S.
-led fight against Islamic State militants in Syria.
"We want to state that Turkey is a valued NATO ally that continues to make important contributions to the fight against
ISIL," U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Karen Eifert said, declining comment on questions about an asylum request.
ISIL is an acronym for Islamic State.
A NATO official, speaking on condition of a**nymity, said Turkey´s internal reorganization of its military has **t had a
practical impact on NATO-led commands.
"Turkey has **tified NATO about the changeover of a number of Turkish military personnel. There has been ** impact on the implementation of NATO-led operations and missions or on the work of NATO commands," the official said, declining comment on any asylum request.
"I would refer you to the Turkish authorities for any further details on their staffing. "U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said it could **t discuss individual cases, including whether an individual has requested a specific immigration benefit like asylum.
The State Department declined comment.
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The asylum bid is the first k**wn case involving a Turkish military ******r in the United States as Turkey purges military
ranks after muti**us soldiers commandeered fighter jets, helicopters and tanks in an unsuccessful attempt to oust
President Tayyip Erdogan.
The case has the potential to further strain ties between the United States and Turkey, which is already demanding
Washington hand over a U.S. -based Turkish cleric it alleges was responsible for the failed coup.
The two U.S. officials, who spoke to Reuters on condition of a**nymity, said the Turkish ******r was working at the
headquarters of NATO´s Allied Command Transformation, located in **rfolk, Virginia.
They did **t name him or offer his rank. However, an official at Turkey´s embassy in Washington said Turkish Navy Rear Admiral Mustafa Ugurlu had failed to report to authorities after Turkey issued a detention order for him last
month.
"On July 22, on that day he left his badges and his ID at the base and after that ** one has heard anything from him," the official said, also speaking on condition of a**nymity.
The Turkish official said he was unaware of a subsequent asylum request. An April news article on the NATO website
identified Ugurlu as the **rfolk-based command´s assistant chief of staff for command and control, deployability and
sustainability.
The Turkish official said two other lower-level ******rs had also been called back from the United States to Turkey.
"But there´s ** detention order for them," the official said.
"One of them has gone back, and the other will go back shortly.
"MILITARY PURGES"
The purges within Turkey´s military, which has NATO´s second largest armed forces and aspires to membership in the European Union, has resulted in thousands of soldiers being discharged, including around 40 percent of generals.
There are concerns within the Turkish opposition that the restructuring lacks parliamentary oversight and is going too
far.
Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis declined comment, referring questions about Turkish military personnel to Turkey.
The **rfolk mission where the Turkish ******r was assigned is the only NATO command in **rth America, according to its website.
It directs Allied Command Transformation´s subordinate commands, including the Joint Warfare Center in **rway and the Joint Force Training Center in Poland.
A spokeswoman at the **rfolk-based mission said 26 Turkish military personnel were assigned there, and she praised Turkey´s contribution, including hosting U.S. and allies at its Incirlik Air Base, an important staging area for the U.S.
-led fight against Islamic State militants in Syria.
"We want to state that Turkey is a valued NATO ally that continues to make important contributions to the fight against
ISIL," U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Karen Eifert said, declining comment on questions about an asylum request.
ISIL is an acronym for Islamic State.
A NATO official, speaking on condition of a**nymity, said Turkey´s internal reorganization of its military has **t had a
practical impact on NATO-led commands.
"Turkey has **tified NATO about the changeover of a number of Turkish military personnel. There has been ** impact on the implementation of NATO-led operations and missions or on the work of NATO commands," the official said, declining comment on any asylum request.
"I would refer you to the Turkish authorities for any further details on their staffing. "U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said it could **t discuss individual cases, including whether an individual has requested a specific immigration benefit like asylum.
The State Department declined comment.
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أكثر... (http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/com/YEor/~3/IfNt0OuRLls/141496-Turkish-military-******r-seeking-asylum-in-United-States)