PM Davutoğlu chairs YAŞ meeting for first time

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has chaired a meeting of the Supreme Military Board (YAŞ) for the first time as prime minister, while President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is likewise set to sign YAŞ decisions for the first time in his new capacity.

A range of issues - including the enacting of a regulation for exempted military service through payments, Ankara’s support of a new U.S.-led effort to train and equip moderate Syrian rebels and the Peshmerga, and the opening of the İncirlik strategic air base in southern Turkey to the coalition's combat aircraft - were expected to be on the agenda in the YAŞ annual winter meeting held on Nov. 27.

Chief of General Staff Gen. Özel and Defense Minister İsmet Yılmaz participated in the meeting, along with a number of other high-ranking members of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).

President Erdoğan and YAŞ members were later set to gather at Turkey’s controversial new “Ak Saray” presidential palace, where the former was to host a dinner.

Davutoğlu, the foreign minister since 2009, succeeded now-President Erdoğan as both the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader and prime minister after the latter was elected to the presidency in a popular vote on Aug. 10.