Ministry of Defense Clarification on Information Regarding the Sale of Military Bases, Barracks, or Property

In response to reports circulating in the media and on social networks that the Ministry of Defense is "selling military bases, barracks, or property," we would like to clarify that from the very first day of the formation of the armed forces and up to the present, processes have been continuously carried out, depending on the challenges the armed forces face at any given moment, with the main aim of improving the management efficiency of the Ministry of Defense resources.

Specifically, at various times, military units have been formed, merged, or dissolved, and various infrastructures, areas, etc. have been operated. In cases where the purpose of operating a certain area, property, or infrastructure is no longer appropriate, effective management of these as state property implies their transfer to a specialized state structure, in this case, the Committee for Management of State Property, for further governance. Otherwise, a situation arises where the Ministry of Defense spends additional resources on their maintenance, when those resources could be directed towards tackling other, much more important tasks.

For instance, the state has spent considerable amounts of money over the years on the maintenance of the former administrative complex of the Ministry of Defense, whereas in the case of its sale, not only would it be possible to save those funds, but also the money generated from the sale of this building would be allocated to addressing several defense-related issues.

Moreover, despite the fact that the main list of properties owned by the Ministry of Defense that are subject to privatization was formed back in the early 2000s, the process has almost come to a standstill, which has led to significant waste of funds for the maintenance of that property over the years. In other words, this is not about the "sale of Ministry of Defense property" but rather about the effective management of areas, properties, or infrastructures on the Ministry of Defense's balance sheet that are not being utilized by the Ministry.