Erdoğan slams terror, economic headaches as part of ‘dirty operations’

ANKARA

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has claimed that dark clouds hanging over the Turkish economy and the threat posed by terrorism are part of “dirty operations” trying to bring down the country.

“Turkey will not be brought to heel by terrorist organizations and it will not surrender to blackmail or any dirty operation,” Erdoğan said during a speech at the Ankara Chamber of Commerce on Nov. 27.

“Those who captured the Turkish economy with speculation of billions of dollars in the past now cannot get results with even bigger attacks, because this is not the old Turkey anymore,” he said.

“There is now a Turkey that is united, great, thriving and brotherly,” he added.

“There may be some who want to divide you [in the trading room]. Don’t let this happen. There should no longer be any places for [the Fetullahist Terrorist Organization] FETÖ to strike,” Erdoğan said.

The president also lashed out at critics of increases in oil prices and the sharp recent fall in the value of the Turkish Lira, describing the increase in the exchange rate as “artificial.”

“One may not know about the Turkey of 20 years ago,” he said, referring to previous eras of high exchange rates.

“Today, the stock market is breaking record after record. I do not agree with some people’s understanding about interest rates. I do not think we need to borrow with such high interest rates,” Erdoğan stated.

Erdoğan praised the performance of Turkey’s economy for “growing almost 3.5 times in the last 15 years.”

The growth rate in the first quarter of 2017 was 5.2 and the government expects much higher rates in subsequent quarters, he said, adding that “no one should be surprised if the 2017 growth rate exceeds 6 percent and reaches nearly 7 percent.”

“Those targeting the Turkish nation have always been frustrated throughout history,” he added.