14.07.2018 Ankara
TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu has issued a message on the anniversary of our nation’s firm stance and solidarity against the treacherous coup attempt on July 15th.
Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that the TOBB and Chamber-Exchange community
were the first exclaim their rejection, “We can never accept an authority which
does not draw its power from the ballot and its authority from the people. We’ll
never submit to a will other than democracy and the will of the nation.
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they will continue to work and produce with a
greater determination to work for our country and our nation, keeping in mind
the words of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk: Sovereignty is derived solely from the will
of the nation.
Stating that they are always on the side of democracy, Hisarcıklıoğlu
said that by repulsing this treacherous and cowardly attack against Turkey's
democracy and the rule of law, they given the best answers to traitors.
TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “July 15th has been a
historical stress test for Turkey's economy and politics.
This test was passed successfully by the grace of the nation and the robustness
of our democracy witnessed. Our democracy and our institutions have proved that
they are mature enough to not surrender brute force. An illegal organization
within the state, the FETO gang was revealed.
Thanks to the national resistance against the junta enthusiasts a
deterrent has been created for any possible similar future attempts.”
- What did the TOBB and the
Chamber/Commodity Exchanges do in this process?
Hisarcıklıoğlu explained what they have done during this process as TOBB
and the Chambers/Commodity Exchanges: “With the emergence of this treacherous
coup attempt originated by the FETO, we put forth our reaction as TOBB and Chamber/Exchange
community.
We were the first initiative professional organization which took action
against the coup attempt.
As soon as the coup d'état declaration was published, at 00:22, we
decried it; ‘We’ll never submit to a will other than democracy and the will of
the nation. This is a day for democracy.”
Later, as TOBB, acted under three divided our activities along 3 axes.
An important part of them was an effective economy diplomacy. After July
15th, there was serious information pollution abroad.
We contacted our 6 continental counterparts in 98 countries and 25
multinational business organizations to clear up the information pollution
abroad.
We told people living in our country first hand. We gave briefings to
business worlds of G-20 and Islamic countries.
The second important issue was to establish and raise investor
confidence. We brought 300 major international investments companies active in
Turkey together with our President and our Prime Minister.
The third area we focused were reforms. Because a strong economy and
quality democracy complement each other. There won’t be one without the other.
In the Platform for the Improvement of the Investment Environment, we
have served as a bridge between our business world and the government. We have
made significant progress in the work we have done with the public
administration on various regulations to improve the business and investment
environment.”
- Economic bill of July 15th
TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu underlined that there was an
economic bill that resulted from July 15th, “Without the coup
attempt, our economy would have grown by around 5%.
We have lost close to 2 points in growth. Just the financial damage
caused by the coup to the economy is 17.3 billion USD. Secondly, it resulted in
a decline in employment.
In previous years, employment increased by 700,000-800,000 in the third
quarter, while it increased by only 300,000 compared to the same period in 2016.
So, close to 500,000 people who normally would have jobs remained unemployed.
Tourism revenues also declined in comparison to 2016.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu, pointing out that there are some positive outcomes
despite great malice, said: “We can draw important lessons for the future.
First, Turkey should know the importance and value of the concept of
rule of law and democracy, must not allow the damage to the political
accountability of the public institutional structure.
Second, the fundamental nature of our country, in that ‘the Republic of
Turkey is democratic, secular, social state of law’ is a constitutional
provision which must be meticulously maintained.
Thirdly, we must strengthen the democracy and the rule of law against
the coups. Because neither principles democracy nor the rule of law cannot
exist without the other.
Let none doubt that we will carry our country to our target of a
stronger economy and a more prosperous Turkey.”