Emre Taner (born 1942, Lice Diyarbakır) is a Turkish civil servant who was until May 2010 the undersecretary (i.e. chief) of the governmental intelligence agency of Turkey, the National Intelligence Organization (Turkish: Milli İstihbarat Teşkilatı, MİT).[1]

Emre Taner
Chief of the National Intelligence Organization of Turkey
In office
June 15, 2005 – June 4, 2010
PresidentAbdullah Gül
Prime MinisterRecep Tayyip Erdoğan
Preceded byŞenkal Atasagun
Succeeded byHakan Fidan
Personal details
Born1942 (age 81–82)
Lice, Diyarbakır Province
NationalityTurkish
Alma materAnkara University
OccupationCivil servant (intelligence)

Career

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After graduating from the School of Political Science at Ankara University, he entered the intelligence agency in 1967[1] and served almost in all the sections of the organization. Between 1984 and 1986, Emre Taner was the chief of Istanbul region bureau.[1] In 1987, he became the head of intelligence department, and was appointed Deputy Undersecretary of MİT in 1992.[1] From 1994 on, Emre Taner served in foreign countries until his appointment to Deputy Undersecretary for Operations on April 7, 1999. Emre Taner succeeded Şenkal Atasagun, who retired on June 15, 2005 from his post before his term of office. Taner announced a restructuring of the MİT at the start of 2009.[2] On May 26, 2010, Taner passed the post on to his successor Hakan Fidan.[3]

Head of the National Intelligence Organization

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He is known for rejuvenating the organization, and encouraging the government to adopt a more active stance with regard to foreign policy.[4] Besides he is credited with reducing the turf war between the MİT and the General Directorate of Security as well as infighting inside the MİT itself.[4] Between 2008 and 2009 he was involved in the peace negotiations with members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) which took place in Oslo, Norway and Kurdish leaders in Iraq.[3] Due to this peace talks with the PKK he and his successor Fidan were summoned in testify by prosecutor Sadrettin Sarıkaya in early February 2012.[3][5] Sarikaya was arrested the same month and the law concerning investigations on the MIT was changed in way that the prime ministers consent was mandatory. The warrant on him was removed on the 18 February 2012.[6]

Personal life

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He was born 1942 in Diyarbakır. He is married.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Emre Taner". National Intelligence Organization. 2008-12-17. Archived from the original on October 14, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-17.
  2. ^ Yetkin, Murat (2009-01-01). "Mercek altındaki MİT'te köklü değişiklik yapıldı". Radikal (in Turkish). Retrieved 2009-01-01.
  3. ^ a b c Yetkin, Murat. "Intelligence failure questions from a spy chief". Hürriyet. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
  4. ^ a b Sariibrahimoglu, Lale (2008-12-07). "Turkey needs an intelligence coordination mechanism, says Güven". Sunday's Zaman. Archived from the original on 2009-08-31. Retrieved 2008-12-17.
  5. ^ "Prosecutor Sarıkaya Dismissed due to "Misconduct of Office"". Bianet. 13 February 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  6. ^ "Court rules to hold trial into Gülenists' summoning of Turkish intel chief to testify behind closed doors". Gazete Duvar (in Turkish). 2020-06-22. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
Preceded by Chief of the MİT
June 15, 2005 – June 4, 2010
Succeeded by