Turkey won’t surrender to ‘economic terrorism’: Erdoğan

ANKARA

Turkey will not surrender to economic terrorism just like it does not surrender to armed and diplomatic terrorism, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has vowed, suggesting a positive trend in the Turkish economy despite continued foreign attacks.

“Though challenges we face have reminded us that we should never give up of our ambition to build a big and strong Turkey. We have seen once again that we will either live or die. There is no any other way,” he told at a meeting in which all his ministers and party officials were gathered for a post-election assessment over the weekend near Ankara.

The Turkish economy has been under attack by foreign powers since the Gezi Protests of 2013 with the latest major intervention was observed last summer, Erdoğan recalled, figures reveal rebalancing of the economy as a result of measures taken by the government. “Rebalancing continued in the first quarter of this year. Figures tell us there is a positive trend,” he said.

Turkey is heading to a nearly four-year election-free period and the government’s main task will be to work to deliver the centennial objectives by 2023, the president stressed. “Somebodies are trying to depict our 2023 objectives as a dream, mirage. But if we believe in them and work all together, it’s possible that we may even surpass these objectives.”

Erdoğan called on Turkish businessmen and investors stand with the Turkish people and direct their investments accordingly.

“If we work all together, we can deliver our promise of generating 2.5 million employment by the end of this year,” he said.