Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Sunday criticized the U.S., saying Turkey will say “goodbye” to those, who prefer terrorists as their strategic partner.
Erdoğan was speaking at ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party’s meeting in northeastern Turkish province of Trabzon.
“We will say goodbye to those, who sacrifice its strategic partnership and alliance with a country of 81 million people on the altar of its relations with terror organizations," he said.
Turks from all walks of life have taken it upon themselves to help support their country’s national currency after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called on citizens to exchange their dollars and euros to Turkish lira, which experienced a sharp decrease in value following an escalating row between NATO allies Ankara and Washington. A large number of Turks launched individual initiatives aimed at encouraging their fellow citizens to support the lira.One citizen, a baker, offered free loaves of bread to anyone who exchanged their dollars, while another offered a free haircut to those who answered Erdoğan's call. Long lines formed in front of jewelers and exchange offices across Turkey as citizens flocked to sell whatever gold or dollars they have on hand to help support the ailing lira. One such citizen is Hatice Yavuz Duygu who expressed her joy to reporters after she exchanged her dollars to Turkish liras. “I’m happy, I never think or feel sad as I always put my support behind the Turkish lira,” she said.National struggle"Anyone who has dollars, euros, or gold underneath their mattresses should go to the bank and convert them into Turkish liras," Erdoğan told a rally on Friday in the northeastern Bayburt province.Erdoğan called such moves part of a "national struggle.""This will be my people's answer to those who declare economic war against us," he added. Süleyman, a trucker from the province of Kayseri, who despite not having any gold to sell or dollars to exchange, still managed to answer Erdoğan’s call by donating his truck to the government. A teller at an exchange office in Nevşehir spoke to Yeni Şafak about the large turnout of citizens who responded to the president’s call to exchange their dollars. “Especially in the last three to four days, our citizens have seriously begun to exchange their dollars. I’d say 80 percent of citizens have exchanged their dollars and euros based on what I’ve seen.”'US sanctions instigate economic war'Erdoğan: You can never bring this nation in line with the language of threats“Protect your country” “We have to protect our country,” a man from the crowd of people waiting to exchange their dollars yelled. “We have no other country. If you don’t want to become like Syria, then protect your country. The day is that of unity, not of playing politics. I, too, exchanged my foreign currency, everyone should do that no matter how much they have.”Criticizing what he called the "interest lobbies," he added that they cannot "overthrow" Turkey.Trump attacks Turkey after Erdoğan calls on TurksTrump said Friday on Twitter that he authorized the doubling of tariffs, noting that "aluminum will now be 20% and steel 50%. Our relations with Turkey are not good at this time!"He later said in a proclamation released by the White House that the additional tariffs would begin on Aug. 13.Trump's announcement came less than an hour after Erdoğan urged Turks to help defend the country against the economic war against the country.The United States, the world's biggest steel importer, imposed tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum in March for imports from a variety of countries.Since then, its relationship with Turkey, the sixth largest steel importer to the United States, has deteriorated, prompting Ankara to send a delegation this week to Washington to meet with both the State and Treasury Departments.Last week, the United States imposed sanctions on Turkey's justice minister and interior minister for not releasing Pastor Andrew Brunson.Securing the release of evangelical Pastor Brunson, who was arrested in 2016 and faces terrorism charges in Turkey, is a top priority for the United States, and it is also tussling with Turkey over trade issues and differences over Syria.Turkey undeterred by threats: presidential aideUS tariff hike on Turkey fails to make economic sense
Turks sprint to support national currency after Erdoğan call
A Turkish senior official late Sunday warned of a perception operation over the Turkish president's remarks in northern province of Trabzon. Turkish Presidency Communications Director Fahrettin Altun tweeted that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said early the same day in Trabzon it was responsibility of both the state and industrialists and merchants to keep the nation on its feet, otherwise they would have to implement plan B or plan C.No deposits will be seized: Turkish FinMinAltun said a perception operation is going on over those remarks of Erdoğan."This perception operation is part of the economic war that our country is facing," Altun tweeted.He added that the Turkish president did not mention seizure of deposit accounts anywhere in his speech in Trabzon.Germany slams US tariffs decision against TurkeyAltun said Erdoğan's words were a warning against the exit of foreign currency from Turkey.He said as Erdogan did not give any detail about plan B or plan C, it is ''unacceptable'' to produce imaginary scenarios and try to disturb market actors."Turkey is facing an economic war. However, our economy is strong, we will win this war in unity of the nation with the state!" Altun added.Turks sprint to support national currency after Erdoğan call'US sanctions instigate economic war'In his speech, Erdogan, referring to industrialists, said, ''Do not prefer to rush to banks and buy foreign currency. You would do the wrong thing if you resort to such options just to be on the safe side. You should know that it is both our and industrialists' and merchants' responsibility to keep this nation on its feet. Otherwise, we would have to implement plan B or plan C.''
Turkish senior official warns of perception operation
Turkey and the U.S. are currently experiencing rocky relations following Washington’s imposition of sanctions on Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu and Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul for not releasing American Pastor Andrew Brunson, who faces terrorism charges in Turkey.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday ramped up his attack on Turkey by doubling U.S. tariffs on Turkish aluminum and steel imports to 20 percent and 50 percent, respectively.
Turkey’s treasury and finance minister early Monday vowed to fight “lies” that deposit money would be seized or that foreign currencies in bank accounts would be converted into Turkish liras, saying that no such steps will be taken."Deposit money will not be seized. Foreign currencies in bank accounts will not be converted into Turkish liras. However, those lies will be fought off until the end in the judicial sphere," Berat Albayrak tweeted.Albayrak said an action plan is coming into effect starting early Monday."Our institutions will take the necessary steps to relax the markets," he said.Albayrak said they prepared the plan together with banks for the real sector, the sector the most affected by recent currency fluctuations."We will take the necessary steps rapidly, together with our banks and the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency," he added.Russia says will cut holdings of US securities amid sanctionsIran slams Trump's tariffs decision targeting TurkeyTurks sprint to support national currency after Erdoğan call
No deposits will be seized: Turkish FinMin
Erdoğan said Turkey would turn towards new markets, new partners and alternative financial tools.
“If you pressure us through the dollar, we will look for other ways to carry out our works,” he said.
“We will give our response to the person -- who declares war against the whole world including our country -- by turning towards new markets, new partners and new alliances," Erdoğan added.
Terming the recent U.S. tariffs on Turkey as an “economic war,” the Turkish president said: “We’ve seen your game and we will challenge it.”
The aim of the recent U.S. pressure is “to seize Turkey in every field from finance to politics,” the president noted.
“We will not surrender,” Erdoğan asserted.
“We will continue producing. We will continue increasing our exports,” he said.