Turecký prezident Erdogan, poskytol 25. júla rozhovor pre nemeckú televíznu stanicu ARD. Rozhovor bol venovaný najmä súvislostiam pokusu o vojenský prevrat v Turecku, spolupráci Turecka s EÚ, problematike boja proti terorizmu ako j ekonomickému rozvoju krajiny. Na oficiálnych stránkach prezidenta bol zverejnený sumár z tohto rozhovoru, ktorý publikujeme v plnom znení.
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“Turkey is at a better point than almost all EU countries in terms of growth rates”
Giving an interview to the German broadcaster ARD, President Erdoğan said: “Turkey is at a better point than almost all EU countries in terms of growth rates. In the aftermath of the coup attempt, the foreign exchange introduced to the market amounts to 2.5 billion dollars. And our central bank’s current foreign exchange reserve is 122 billion dollars. We are in a good position. The increase in our exports continues.”
In an interview with the German broadcaster ARD, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gave information on the coup attempt staged by the Gulenist Terrorist Organization (FETO) members within the Turkish Armed Forces and developments in its aftermath.
President Erdoğan underlined that 5 people were martyred at the Presidential Complex in the bomb attack during the July 15 coup attempt, noting that the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) was also strafed.
“THERE IS DEATH PENALTY ALMOST IN THE ENTIRE WORLD OUTSIDE THE EU”
Regarding a question as to whether death penalty would be reinstated in Turkey, President Erdoğan underlined “there is death penalty almost in the entire world outside the European Union” and he added: “We have been at the door of the EU for 53 years. We revoked the death penalty but what has changed? In democratic administrations, right to speak belongs to the nation. And now the people request the restoration of death penalty. And as statesmen, it is not acceptable for us to reject this request of the people. The place where we would meet this request is the parliament. Once this request comes to the parliament and if the parliament passes this request, then the relevant steps are taken. But if the parliament doesn’t approve it, then there is already nothing we can say.”
“I DON’T FIND EU’S STANCE SINCERE”
Underlining that thousands of people would have been martyred unless the coup attempt had been quelled, President Erdoğan continued: “But coup plotters failed and the number of martyrs remained at 237. We cannot be a mere spectator to such a thing. People are crying out this request at squares and anywhere we go. And as the politicians, the moment we say ‘no, we don’t mind and approve what you say,’ people cut off ties with that political movement and those who are ruling the country. Therefore it is impossible for us to disregard this request. Actually I personally don’t consider the EU’s stance on this issue sincere.” President Erdoğan further underscored: “I am not a king. I am a President that the nation brought to the office with %52 vote. Turkey isn’t a kingdom. In a democratic state of law, you cannot overlook and say ‘no’ to people’s requests.”
“EU COUNTRIES HAVEN’T FULFILLED THEIR PROMISE TO TURKEY”
In answer to a question on the refugee deal between the EU and Turkey, President Erdoğan said: “Our European friends and administrators aren’t behaving sincerely. EU countries haven’t fulfilled their promise to Turkey, which currently hosts 3 million Syrian and Iraqi refugees. Turkey has so far spent 12 billion dollars from its state budget. In addition, our NGOs have spent almost an equal amount of money for the refugees. However, no support has reached Turkey from the EU thus far. We don’t ask for any support to Turkey’s budget. We expect this support for the Syrian refugees as a human duty.” President Erdoğan further stressed that Turkey will continue to care for refugees currently accommodated in Turkey regardless of whether the money promised by the EU is sent to Turkey or not, adding that works are already underway for granting citizenship to refugees.
TURKEY-EU RELATIONS AND VISA-LIBERALIZATION
Citing the visa-liberalization as the main issue that should be addressed rather than other topics within the context of Turkey-EU relations, President Erdoğan said Turkey and the EU reached a decision on the visa-liberalization issue in 2013 for starting visa-free travel in 2015, and he added: “The readmission was going to be carried out simultaneously. However, since the visa-liberalization didn’t go into effect, readmission also wasn’t implemented, either. Recalling that the EU officials promised to grant Turkey visa exemption starting from July, President Erdoğan said: “Now the point we have come to as of July is evident. Promises aren’t being kept. The visa-liberalization has not been provided yet. That being the case, they still demand readmission from Turkey. They should be done on the basis of reciprocity. Both we and the EU should keep the promises. We are delivering on our promise. As the President, I am working in harmony with the government. We fulfil our promises on the issue as long as the EU fulfils its promises.”
“TURKEY IS AT A BETTER POINT THAN ALMOST ALL EU COUNTRIES IN TERMS OF GROWTH RATES”
Stressing that Turkey is economically in a good position,” President Erdoğan said: “Turkey is at a better point than almost all EU countries in terms of growth rates. In the aftermath of the coup attempt, the foreign exchange introduced to the market amounts to 2.5 billion dollars. And our central bank’s current foreign exchange reserve is 122 billion dollars. We are in a good position. The increase in our exports continues. There is no shortcoming on this issue, either.” The President rejected negative claims about the Turkish economy as disinformation.
“CALLING TERROR ATTACKS ‘ISLAMIST’ IS A DISRESPECT TO MUSLIMS”
Referring to recent terror attack in Germany, President Erdoğan said: “I don’t call attacks in Ansbach or Munich an ‘Islamist attack.’ You shouldn’t make such a mistake, either. Calling terror attacks ‘Islamist’ is a disrespect to the Muslims all across the world.”
The President continued: “Can you call a terror attack carried out by a Christian ‘Christianist terror’ or a terror attack conducted by a Jew ‘Jewish terror?’ I am one of the first leaders in the world to condemn antisemitism. We should stand up against any kind of terror all together. For example Mr. Hollande has recently made the same mistake, as well; he said ‘Islamist terror.’ We have warned against this mistake many times. You are declaring Muslims as terrorists. Using the expression ‘Islamist terror’ is as big a mistake as antisemitism. It is wrong against the Muslims to use the ‘Islamist terror’ expression. We should put an end to this wrong.”
“THE PKK IS RUNNING WILD IN GERMANY”
Reminding his address to heads of state and government in the latest NATO Summit, in which President Erdoğan stressed that joint measures should be taken against terror all together without making any discrimination of religion, language or race, and that the only goal should be to ensure the peace and security of the humanity, President Erdoğan said: “We now partake in the fight against terror. We are fighting against the Daesh, PKK, YPG and PYD. However we can see no such struggle inside our friendly countries. Look, the PKK is running wild in Germany. Likewise, the portrait of the terrorist leader is being hung in Strasbourg and Brussels at various EU buildings. The PKK is setting up tents near these buildings. They are setting up tents in Germany and Belgium and collecting money under the portrait of the terrorist leader despite the fact they are listed as terrorist organizations. What kind of a struggle is that?”
Pointing out that among those killed in the latest terror attack in Germany were 4 Turks, President Erdoğan extended condolences to the German people for the victims of the terror attack and concluded his address by emphasizing that “it is a must that we join forces and achieve peace together.”
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Zdroj textu a ilustračné foto: http://www.tccb.gov.tr/en/news/542/49787/turkey-is-at-a-better-point-than-almost-all-eu-countries-in-terms-of-growth-rates.html
