14.05.2016 Ankara
TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu replied to allegations made by CHP İstanbul Parliamentary Representative Gürsel Tekin in a newspaper today.
Hisarcıklıoğlu’s statement is as follows:
“Allegations made against my person in a newspaper article today are
completely false, fictitious and made with malicious intent.
Allegations made by CHP İstanbul Parliamentary Representative Gürsel
Tekin are slander of the ugliest sort.
I would like to take this opportunity to address attempts to draw myself
and TOBB into political arguments in the last two days.
As the President of TOBB, it is not my duty to take sides in political
arguments; it is to relay the grievances and suggestions of the business
community to politicians who have been elected and those in position to make
decisions; it is to produce solutions and projects.
We do this by using common purpose and consultation. In this regard, we
consult with both ruling and opposition parties as well as state officials on a
daily basis.
I vehemently censure those who, with the intent to sow discord by falsely
accusing me of making various statements during our meetings CHP Chairman Kemal
Kılıçdaroğlu which never took place.
I have always made sure to prevent the political arena and my assigned
positions never overlap. I will not be provoked by those wanting pull TOBB into
politics and those seeking political gains for themselves.
Unless Gürsel Tekin retracts or amends his statements which include
false allegations made against me, I will begin the necessary procedures to
seek legal recourse in regards to this issue.”