04.08.2016 Ankara
TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, along with the presidents of chambers and exchanges, attended the consultation meeting with the President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Presidential Palace. Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “As TOBB and the Chamber-Exchange community, we will always stand by democracy, nation and government as we always have.”
Speaking at the Chamber-Exchange Presidents Consultation Meeting at the
Presidential Palace, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the
imperturbable stance and prioritizing the economy during these extraordinary
times gives the business community morale and motivation, “We, the traders and
industrialists of our country, are determined to keep going without pause
towards a stronger economy.” Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the nation and country
have overcome a dire situation.
Stating that the danger was no ordinary coup attempt, Hisarcıklıoğlu,
“This was a plan to end our dream of a great Turkey just as the country was on
the rise again. Thank Allah for his assistance to the people that night. The
heinous attack perpetrated by the FETÖ terror organization on the night of the
15th of July was defeated through the national resistance and the
insight of our people under the leadership of the President of the Republic of
Turkey. Thank Allah for making us members of this nation.”
- TOBB community stands by the
fight for democracy
Pointing out that the TOBB community, chambers and exchanges in their
provinces and counties, have been honorable soldiers in the counter-junta
resistance, even going so far as to having lost one of its members.
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Ömercan Açıkgöz, a TOBB ETU student, lost his life
in a clash with the putschists at the Presidential Palace.
Stating that they were the first profession organization to reject this
coup attempt of FETÖ origin, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said:
“As soon as the putschist declaration was read out on the TV, we made
clear our stance in support of democracy and the will of the people, both
online and on TV. We messaged all of our chamber and exchange members,
vocational committee members throughout the 81 provinces and 160 counties to
urge them to stand against this coup attempt, reaching out to 85,000 people via
SMS. The following day we visited our veteran National Assembly. We paid a
condolatory visit to the Speaker of the Assembly and political parties.
Attending the historic session in the National Assembly, we showed that
the Turkish business community is on the side of democracy. We showed our
reaction against the coup attempt on the 19th of July as 365
chambers and exchanges of 81 provinces and 160 counties simultaneously. We
declared that, ‘Democracy is indispensable; National Will is our Power;
Solidarity is Our Future.’ On the 20th of July we visited the TGNA
along with 538 representatives of various NGOs. We read our Commitment to
Democracy declaration. We’ve contacted all of our international partners to
assure them that our democracy is robust as ever and that they should have no
anxiety in regards to the situation in Turkey.
We’ve contacted the largest international investors in Turkey. We’ve
informed them of the situation and the power of the Turkish economy. Throughout
this process, our chambers and exchanges have been staunch defenders of
democracy in all provinces and all counties from the very first moment that the
junta surfaced.
In every city, our people have attended democracy watches providing
logistics and food for those there.
I am proud of each and every member of the Chamber and Exchange
community which has embraced democracy and the ballot.
We’ve paid a heavy price in this fight. Once again, I pray for the grace
of Allah upon those who were martyred and hope for the speedy recovery of the
wounded. Our government is combating the terror organization and fighting to
bring those responsible to justice with all of its resources so that the blood
of martyrs will not have been shed in vain.”
- Support for the state of
emergency
Stating that they are in support of the decision to declare a state of
emergency in order to facilitate the preservation of the public peace and
uninterrupted continuity of services as the Chamber-Exchange community,
Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized the need to support the government as the people of
this country. TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that TOBB-Chamber-Exchange
community would contribute to the aid campaign started by the government to
help martyrs and veterans.
“In summation, this community has embraced democracy and the ballot
fully. From here onward, we are at the service of our government and nation,”
the TOBB President went on, “We will work to make this country and its people
richer. We must engage in even greater works now. We must invest more, provide
more jobs and export more.
With your support, we will overcome all of these traps and make our
country one of the 10 largest economies of the world. TOBB and the
Chamber-Exchange community, we will continue to stand by our democracy, nation
and government, as we have always have.
We believe that we will become a much more safer country and achieve a
stronger economy soon. Throughout this process, it is our duty to be faithful
to the people and the government. We will stand against those who oppose the
unity, solidarity and democracy of our country”.
- Messages from President Erdoğan
The President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, stated in
his speech, “Let none doubt that 15th of July was an attempt to
render this nation without its flag, homeland and government; those who
attempted this have no regard for flag, homeland nor government.”
Erdoğan spoke at the Consultation Meeting with Chamber and Exchange
Presidents at the Presidential palace.
The President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said,
“They robbed the people, tricking them with zeal. Now it all comes to light.
There is a lot more to come. We have not stopped in our fight; only paused. We
will continue. There is tiredness, no laxity; we will move towards the end with
determination.”
Erdoğan also stated that he has visited the family of the martyred
Oğuzhan Yaşar at the TOBB ETU Hospital who unfortunately lost his life
following 19 days of critical care.