As Necip Torumtay resigned from his post as Chief of General Staff, Gürsel was appointed in his stead the next day.

In an interview with journalist Fikret Bila for his book Komutanlar Cephesi ("Commanders Front"), Doğan Güreş stated that from the first operation carried out by Turkey against PKK targets in northern Iraq during his tenure as Chief of General Staff, to the Çekiç Güç, the planes violating the border and the "shoot" orders he gave to Gendarmerie Asayish Commander Lieutenant General Necati Özgen, he did not consult with then-President Turgut Özal, Prime Minister Süleyman Demirel, nor meet with the MGK.

[4] Regarding the uprisings against the security forces in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia, Doğan Güreş said in an interview he gave to the Milliyet newspaper on September 25, 26, following the National Security Council meeting held in September 1992, that there was no Kurdish problem, that there was a southeastern problem and that the period of total struggle began with the cooperation of the government of the time.

Güreş was known for his harmonious work with Tansu Çiller, who, after taking office as prime minister in 1993, chose to pursue a policy that would further weaken the PKK.

According to a news report from the time, Güreş responded to the British Chief of General Staff's question, "Does your female Prime Minister give orders?"