Cyprus-Forum.com

by **Lit** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 2:12 am

Former head of the Special War Office retired General Kemal Yamak died

Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (28.07.09) reports that former Turkish Land Forces Commander and former head of the Special War Office retired General Kemal Yamak died at the age of 85 yesterday. The paper further reports that General Yamak, prior to the Turkish invasion and occupation of part of the Republic of Cyprus commanded the secret operations in Cyprus and in 1979 after the invasion and the occupation, he was the commander of the occupation army in Cyprus. General Yamak, before being promoted to the post of commander of the Turkish Land Forces in 1987-1989, he was the commander of the Turkish Aegean Forces in 1985-1987 during which Greco-Turkish relations were going through a critical period.

The paper reports that when General Yamak was head of the Special War Department in 1971 the then Ecevit Government was unaware of the existince of the Department which was being financed by the USA. General Yamak referring to this fact in his memoirs wrote that at that time there were parliamentarians belonging to Ecevits party who were civilian members of the Special War Department.

On the same issue, Turkish daily Milliyet newspaper (28.07.09) reports the death of General Yamak under the title Symbol Name of the Special War Department. Hurriyet newspaper reports the generals death under the title Ozals General Secretary Died referring to the First Gulf War period during which Turgut Ozal was Turkish president and General Yamak was his offices General Secretary.

(MHY)