Tea-Pasha, Time is Out

Permanent Partnership Mechanism Meeting with Sweden and Finland

With the Madrid Tripartite Agreement signed on June 29, 2022, Finland and Sweden's NATO membership process continues. The third meeting of the Permanent Partnership Mechanism established within this framework was held on March 9, 2023 at NATO Headquarters in Brussels. Presidential Spokesperson İbrahim KALIN and Deputy Foreign Minister Burak AKÇAPAR represented Turkey at the meeting. 

After the trilateral meeting, a national assessment meeting was held at NATO Headquarters under the chairmanship of İbrahim KALIN at the NATO Permanent Representative Office, also known as the 'national delegation', where Turkish civilian personnel working under Ambassador Zeki Levent GÜMRÜKÇÜ, who took office as Turkey's Permanent Representative to NATO on January 15, 2023.

Normally such a meeting would be closed to the press, but for some reason Anadolu Agency was invited to the meeting. At least the agency was allowed to take footage from a part of the meeting. These images were later shared with the Turkish media by the agency in question. In these images, there was something about the video that disturbed everyone who watched it. 

In the video footage of the meeting, there was the figure of a standing Lieutenant General. For some reason, he was not given a seat at the table. He was standing like an usher. Probably the presence of Deputy Minister of National Defense Yunus Emre KARAOSMANOĞLU representing the Armed Forces at this meeting was deemed sufficient. When the tea glasses at the table were empty, this Lieutenant General started collecting them as if he was the "waiter" on duty in that hall. My eyes almost popped out of my head in astonishment!

Who is this person in uniform?

Let me tell you for those who do not know. He was Air Major General Göksel KÂHYA, who was serving as Turkey's Military Representative to NATO at NATO Headquarters, attending Military Committee meetings on behalf of the Chief of General Staff, and who was in Brussels on permanent assignment. At NATO meetings and meetings with allies, Turkey was represented by Ambassador GÜMRÜKÇÜ on the political side and Major General KÂHYA on the military side. If one pays attention to the video, it will be seen that KAHYA carries the rank of Lieutenant General, not Major General. 

This nominal or representative rank of Lieutenant General was given to him temporarily. Let's look at what it was given according to. The following subparagraph was added to the first paragraph of Article 3 of the Turkish Armed Forces Personnel Law No. 926 dated July 27, 1967, with the amendment to the law adopted on June 23, 2016.

Honorary rank: The rank given to officers and non-commissioned officers who are appointed or assigned to permanent or temporary missions abroad, in special cases, at a rank one rank higher than their rank for the duration of their duty.

Official Uniform and TAF Dress Code

Every cadet who enters a military school is first taught the rules of carrying the official uniform. You are told that the nation has given you this honor, you should know how to carry the official uniform like a man. This was the first rule I and my fellow cadets were taught in the first days of our military service at Kuleli Military High School in 1980. What did this rule in the Turkish Armed Forces Dress Code say? 

"No drinking alcoholic beverages in public places in official dress. No chewing gum, carrying bags, cigarettes in the mouth or walking around with hands in pockets. No behavior that may damage the honor and dignity of the uniform, look ugly to the eye, or be socially unacceptable."

It was an ugly sight to see a person in official uniform, carrying the rank of Lieutenant General, collecting tea empties. Turkish society found it strange. It was considered as an attitude and behavior that undermined the honor and dignity of the uniform. Yes, it all happened all at once, with a single image. 

A Memory

I was in military school. During my first vacation I went to my hometown Saruhanlı/Manisa. My late father ran a coffee shop. I was helping him with my brother. I was in civilian clothes, of course. But one day, one of the customers in the coffeehouse called out to me from a distance, from where he was sitting, for everyone to hear. 'Commander, bring us two teas! The incident happened about a month after September 12th. Even the smallest man, if he was a soldier, was called Commander by our people at that time. Of course, the person who called me Commander had no bad intentions, but I was disturbed. I remember that before I could even reply to this person, I rushed to my father. "It doesn't seem right for me to be a waiter, to serve tea to those who call me Commander, father!" I said. The deceased understood the situation immediately and was a little embarrassed. "OK, son, you're right, it wouldn't be right for you to get involved in these things anymore, don't serve!" he said. That day, I learned the painful lesson that I should not serve tea as a soldier.

Why did Anadolu Agency serve these images?

It is a tradition in aviation to address close seniors as "Abi". For aviators, this is the best expression of love and respect. You do not call an elder you do not like "Abi". Now, my old brother called Göksel Kâhya has done something. In response, the Anadolu Agency has done something that I believe was deliberate, but in this case, I am more interested in pointing out Göksel Kahya's impudence in his official uniform rather than the Anadolu Agency. On the other hand, I would like to express that I find this kind of news service unbecoming of this agency, which was founded on April 6, 1920, 17 days before the opening of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, and which was the voice of Turkey during the Turkish War of Independence and its aftermath. 

The Highest Ranking Officer in Brussels, Commander: Lieutenant General Göksel Kâhya

Mr. Göksel Kâhya, who is serving in Brussels with the titular rank of Lieutenant General, is the Commander of all military personnel there. He is the highest ranking military personnel. There is no one higher. Everyone is looking into his mouth. With this incident, we realized that he was also looking into the mouths of others. He also has countless civilian personnel under his command. Our state has given him the power and might to hire a waiter, and this convenience. 

I appeal to Mr. Göksel KAHYA: For God's sake, please tell me! Is there no one left in Brussels to serve tea except you? Where did this tea service come from? If you were at least in civilian clothes, maybe we could swallow this. How dare you destroy the dignity of the blue uniform? Leave aside your years as an officer, you have been eating the bread of this Army with the rank of General for the last 13 years. How could you, how dare you, look this nation in the eye with an image of a tea service that is unbecoming even for a Turkish non-commissioned officer/officer? Have you never been taught in your 42 years of military service that it is not appropriate to do such things while wearing an official uniform? In our military manners, in the traditions of the Turkish Armed Forces that go back more than two thousand years, is there such a thing as "Commanders serve tea" and I was not aware of it until today? 

One of our columnists asked in his column the other day, "How did we get from Reşat Çiğiltepe, who committed suicide of honor because he could not capture the hill at the promised time during the war, to pashas who serve tea?" Yes, I am curious too. How and when did we get to the bars, Kahya Pasha?

"I could not teach this nation to be servants!"

As you know, Atatürk hosted a dinner in the Dolmabahçe Palace in honor of the British King on September 4, 1936. When one of the waiters entered the dining room, he got excited and rolled on the floor with the plate in his hand. The food scatters on the carpets. The guests turn red with embarrassment. But Atatürk bowed to the King and said: "I have taught this nation everything, but I could not teach it servitude." I can't help but think that if Atatürk were alive, he would probably say to you, "I couldn't teach this nation servitude, but you have learned it very well, Pasha, congratulations." 

Conclusion

How could you have consented to the humiliation and contempt of the entire Turkish Army in your person, Pasha? An officer is someone who knows how to protect the honor of being an officer. How could a man like you, of the rank of General, who knows the dignity and honor of being an officer, fall into such a game that was designed or deemed appropriate for him? 

If you are not ashamed of yourself, I have nothing to say to you. I don't know if they will give you that third star you so much want, but if I were you, I would remove all the stars on my shoulders, return them with respect, apologize to this nation and never wear that blue uniform again. I can't...

It's a shame. You shouldn't have done this to us, Tea Master!