Previously, the Coast Guard Command used to be defined as “an armed security force”, part of the Turkish Armed Forces’ staff and structure. At times of peace, it was subordinate to the Ministry of Interior in terms of duties and services. It was subordinated to the Naval Forces Command fully or partially during a State of Emergency, and fully and directly at times of war -at the behest of the Chief of General Staff. The new provision defines the Coast Guard Command as “an armed, general law enforcement force”, which reports to the Ministry of Interior. At times of military mobilization and war, those sections of the Coast Guard Command designated by the Council of Ministers become subordinate to Naval Forces Command, while the remaining sections continue to fulfill their regular duty (Executive Decree 668 Article 23; Executive Decree 674 Article 26).
Coast Guard Command’s participation in training and drills planned by the Naval Forces Command is now subject to the approval of the Minister of Interior (Executive Decree 668 Article 28).
The Articles 6, 9, 10, 11, 16, 20, 21/A, 21/B and 22 of the law have been abrogated. These articles used to refer to the General Staff in terms of staff and structure and the Law no 926 on Turkish Armed Forces Personnel; authorize the Coast Guard Command in transfers of duty and service location; refer to the Law no. 211 on Turkish Armed Forces Internal Service Law in terms of the chain of command; authorize the Naval Forces Command or other educational institutions of the Turkish Armed Forces in terms of training and education; they also included an article on the relations with other institutions; authorized a separate law for the staff’s basic rights; two paragraphs of an article on disciplinary punishment elaborated elsewhere; and articles distinguishing between judiciary and administrative duties (Executive Decree 668 Article 35).
Executive Decree 703 revised certain articles of the Law no. 2692 on Coast Guard Command, shifting certain powers and functions from the Council of Ministers, Ministries and other agencies to the President’s Office.