Former Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaşar Büyükanıt handed over his duty to the new Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ.

Each general gave a speech during the ceremony before guests like President Abdullah Gül, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President of the Northern Cyprus Turkish Republic (KKTC) Mehmet Ali Talat.

While Büyükanıt concentrated on the practical difficulties the new European Union Adaptation Laws have introduced in the fight against terrorism, Başbuğ dealt with more theoretical issues such as the subjects of ethnic identities and secularism.

Başbuğ: Ethnically, there cannot be new rights under constitutional rule

Başbuğ said in the ceremony that “Super-Identity is the Turkish nation. The reservations people have about saying ‘What happiness it is for one to be able to say I am a Turk’ should be eliminated.

“To be able to make intellectual discussion within the state does not mean that the components of state which hold it together are open to discussion.”

Başbuğ also emphasized that the concept of nation-state was not open to discussion, either. “Ethnically, there cannot be new rights under constitutional rule.”

Regarding the issue of secularism, Başbuğ said the concern in the society about secularism should be dispelled. He pointed out to the religious communities trying to direct the social life. (EZÖ/TB)