July 2, 2008 - 18:01 AMT
Ruben Safrastyan: Turkey facing severe shock
The current internal crisis in Turkey is another sign of Deep State, according to an Armenian expert.

"The recent arrests of high-ranking military and state officials are the evidence that the Justice and Development Party (AKP) is preparing for a Constitutional Court decision to ban the party," Dr. Ruben Safrastyan, director of the institute of oriental studies at the RA academy of sciences, told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

"Given the fact that 7 out of 11 judges stand for the ban, it is rather probable. The arrests are a king of warning. The AKP is responsible for them. As soon as the CC announces the verdict, Prime Minister Erdogan, President Gul and some other party activists will be accused of corruption and criminal cases will be initiated. On the other hand, some secret documents testifying of army attempts to interfere in the country's political life have been made public recently. The Turkish army is also fermenting: officers object meddling with the political affairs," he said.

He supposes that the AKP has several ways to survive: to rename the party, to join another party and take it under control or just announce pre-term parliamentary election. "It's quite probable that a new party basing not on ideology but on consensus between political forces will be formed in Turkey by autumn, with former Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz at the head. Anyway, Turkey is facing a severe shock," Dr. Safrastyan concluded.