Retired Rear Admiral Yankı Bağcıoğlu stated that the judicial process carried out against Özata Denizcilik executives and the criminal complaints of the Capital Markets Board should also be evaluated from the perspective of the national defense industry, and called for the examination of all projects and contracts of Özata Shipyard and related companies.
"THE REAL ISSUE..."
Retired Rear Admiral Yankı Bağcıoğlu stated the following in his statement on his social media account:
"The reliability and reputation of our national defense industry is above all discussions. The judicial process carried out against Özata Maritime executives and the criminal complaints made by the Capital Markets Board (CMB) cannot be considered only as a capital market issue. Because the Özata Tersanecilik company of the same group is involved in critical projects of our national defense industry.
Özata; It is involved in the HİSAR Class Offshore Patrol Ship Project for the Turkish Naval Forces within the scope of its business partnership with two Turkish shipyards, and also in 4 Fuel Ship Projects within the business partnership it formed with another Turkish shipyard. The issue is to evaluate the developments regarding Özata and its related company structure from the perspective of the national defense industry. The issue is not just the financial viability or schedule of a single project. "The real issue is the reliability, financial resilience, independent decision-making ability and auditability standards that our national defense industry should look for in its contractors and business partners."
CALL TO GOVERNMENT
"Upon the developments, the Presidency of Defense Industries should examine all projects and contracts of Özata Tersanecilik and its affiliated company structure in the national defense industry in a holistic manner; and make the necessary risk assessments in terms of financial and corporate structure, partnership and control relations, corporate governance, contractual obligations and supply security.
This should not be enough. In order to prevent these and similar situations from occurring again, the financial sufficiency, financial independence, legal and institutional structure and reliability criteria applied in the selection of contractors, subcontractors and business partners in national defense industry projects should be reviewed. Companies involved in critical defense projects have not only technical capabilities; Its financial structure, partnership and control relationships, corporate management and reliability are also of strategic importance."
"MUST BE EXAMINED CAREFULLY"
"In this context, the partnership and financing structures of the companies should also be examined meticulously. Because financial or institutional weaknesses may make critical national defense industry companies vulnerable to external influences and undesirable dependencies. The issue here is not to accuse a crime in advance. The judicial process will continue in its own way.
However, the national defense industry does not hesitate when it comes to trust. When such developments occur, it is imperative to make the necessary investigation, eliminate any weaknesses and take measures to prevent the recurrence of similar risks. Critical projects of the Turkish Armed Forces, public resources and the reputation of our national defense industry are at stake. "The national defense industry does not forgive such mistakes, trust can only be maintained with strong supervision, transparency and accountability."
