In a declaration issued on Tuesday, the National Will Platform called for unity and solidarity in the face of “economic attacks.”
A platform of 290 Turkish non-governmental organizations has voiced its support for the Turkish government against the recent U.S. sanctions on the country.
In a declaration issued on Tuesday, the National Will Platform called for unity and solidarity in the face of “economic attacks.”
“We respectfully announce to the public our steadfast support for our government and president amid this economic war against our country,” the declaration read.
Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said Wednesday some destinations where Turkey’s flag carrier flies to have strategic importance.Speaking at the 10th Ambassadors’ Conference in capital Ankara where the Turkish Airlines chairman was also present, Cavusoglu said: “For example, [Turkish Airlines] flies to 51 destinations in Africa, but it is the only airlines flying to Mogadishu.“It is especially strategic that Turkish Airlines is flying to certain destinations besides the 302 airports it flies to,” he added.He added there was no other global company other than Turkish Airlines (THY) that flies to Somalia.“Moreover, while many countries operate their embassies in containers at airports, our largest mission in the world is in Mogadishu,” he said.He also said THY is a world brand, not only due to the number of destinations it flies, but also because of the quality of the service and food, and added that for this reason, it has been elected as the best airline in Europe successively each year.Cavusoglu said THY is very supportive of the Foreign Ministry and the missions abroad.He added THY is a great support in flying delegations, artists or artifacts.
Turkish foreign minister praises Turkish Airlines
Turkey and the U.S. are currently experiencing rocky relations following Washington’s imposition of sanctions on two government ministers for not releasing Brunson, who faces terrorism-related charges in Turkey.
The platform accused the U.S. of attempting to interfere in Turkey’s “judiciary by imposing economic sanctions and manipulating exchange rates.”
President Donald Trump on Friday ramped up his attack on Turkey by doubling U.S. tariffs on Turkish aluminum and steel imports.
The platform has called on Turkish citizens to remain calm and confident in the face of economic hardship.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan's spokesman said on Wednesday he expected problems with the United States to be resolved but Washington must stop trying to influence Turkey's judiciary.İbrahim Kalın stated that Turkey didn't want an economic war with the U.S., but that staying silent when it was being attacked was out of the question.Ibrahim Kalın also told a news conference that Turkey would exercise its rights if the U.S. does not deliver F-35 jets to Ankara. The lira, which has rallied after hitting a record low of 7.24 to the dollar, would continue to recover, he said.World leaders slam Trump’s sanctions, express support for Turkey"There were no talks planned between President Erdoğan and President Donald Trump", Kalın added.Kalın also said a news conference that Turkey will take a positive stance towards trading in national currencies to escape from U.S. dollar pressure.Ibrahim Kalin also expressed Turkey's “deep disappointment” over the U.S. stance on the detention of American pastor Andrew Brunson and said “If we are to mention any disappointment, we can say that Turkey is experiencing a deep disappointment in terms of its national interests,” to reporters at a weekly press briefing at the Presidential complex in capital Ankara.Turkey's doubling tariffs on US products will amount to $533 mln: Trade MinisterHis remarks came after the White House spokeswoman expressed Washington’s “frustration” regarding the Brunson case.Sarah Sanders said: “Certainly the President has a great deal of frustration on the fact that Pastor Brunson has not been released, as well as the fact that other U.S. citizens and employees of diplomatic facilities have not been released.“And we’re going to continue to call on Turkey to do the right thing and release those individuals,” she added.Criticizing the U.S. administration, Kalin said: “As they are taking relations with Turkey to a breaking point for one pastor, we have yet to see either the Obama or the Trump administration take any concrete steps towards Turkey’s rightful and urgent national security matters.”Turkey limits installment plans for credit cards, loansTurkey and the U.S. are currently experiencing rocky relations following Washington’s imposition of sanctions over the detention of American pastor Andrew Brunson, who is under house arrest in Turkey over terrorism charges.Brunson's charges include spying for the PKK -- listed as a terrorist group by both the U.S. and Turkey -- and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the defeated coup attempt in Turkey of July 2016.
Turkey doesn't want economic war with US, but wont stay silent: presidential aide
The Turkish public, institutions and organizations have rallied behind Turkey’s economy to counter the economic war initiated by the United States which sparked speculative rises in currency. As the government takes the necessary steps, citizens have exchanged their foreign currency holdings into the Turkish lira. A slew of support messages streamed in from the business community, calling the Turkish economy strong and durable.“Today is the day to unite and work in solidarity for the future of a strong Turkey. We are answering President Erdoğan’s call for currency mobilization as a single entity, and we say that we are behind him! We owe it to our nation to work harder. The Ankara Chamber of Commerce is resolute,” said President of the Ankara Chamber of Commerce Gürsel Baran.“Our people will not be brought to their knees through economic attacks. We have no doubt that these attacks will be dispersed. We will continue to produce more and work harder. Every penny in our pocket is for this country. We as the business community will always stand beside our country and people,” said Ankara Chamber of Industry President Nurettin Özdebir.The lira firmed as far as 5.75 against the dollar on Wednesday and stood at 5.9350 at 0745 GMT.Turkey-U.S. rowTurkey and the U.S. are currently experiencing rocky relations following Washington’s imposition of sanctions on Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu and Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül for not releasing American Pastor Andrew Brunson, who faces terrorism charges in Turkey.Banking watchdog puts new limits on FX swapsU.S. President Donald Trump last week ramped up his attack on Turkey by doubling U.S. tariffs on Turkish aluminum and steel imports to 20 percent and 50 percent, respectively, causing the lira to lose value against the dollar.Turkey imposed tariffs on several U.S.-origin products, including alcohol and tobacco products and cars, according to a new presidential decree published early Wednesday in the official gazette.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in his turn said Turkey would turn toward new markets, new partners and alternative financial tools, and said that the country would boycott U.S. electronic products.Turkish court rejects US pastor’s appeal for release for second time“If you pressure us through the dollar, we will look for other ways to carry out our works,” he said.Terming the recent U.S. tariffs on Turkey as an “economic war,” the Turkish president said: “We’ve seen your game and we challenge it.”The aim of the recent U.S. pressure is “to ensnare Turkey in every field from finance to politics,” the president noted.“We will not surrender,” Erdoğan asserted.Video: Rationale of US tariffs very weak: Harvard economics professorTariffs on Turkish imports ‘pose serious risks’ for USTurkey raises tariffs on US-origin products
Business community backs Turkish economy
Turkey's central government's budget balance posted a surplus of 1.13 billion Turkish liras ($237 million) last month, the Treasury and Finance Ministry announced Wednesday.In July, Turkey's budget revenues reached 61.8 billion Turkish liras ($13 billion), up nearly 18 percent year-on-year, according to the official data.Budget expenditures in July were 60.7 billion Turkish liras ($12.8 billion), an annual hike of around 17.8 percent.Excluding interest payments, the central government's budget balance saw a surplus of 9 billion Turkish liras ($1.95 billion) last month.In the first seven months of the year, the budget saw a deficit of 45 billion Turkish liras ($10.74 billion).Turkey limits installment plans for credit cards, loansTurkish housing sales up in JulyTurkey's budget revenues reached 415.4 billion Turkish liras ($99 billion) from January to July, rising 18.1 percent from the same period last year.During the same period, budget expenditures rose nearly 22.5 percent compared to same period last year, totaling 460.4 billion Turkish liras ($109.9 billion).Tax revenues totaled 349.2 billion Turkish liras ($83.3 billion) over the same period.The budget balance excluding interest payments saw a surplus of some 3 billion Turkish liras ($716 million) in the January-July period.The average U.S. dollar/Turkish lira exchange rate in July was 4.76, while one dollar was trading for 4.19 liras on average in the first seven months this year, according to the Turkish Central Bank.
Turkey's budget records $237 million surplus in July