President Gül Attends Iftar Hosted by Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

14.07.2014
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President Gül Attends Iftar Hosted by Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

 

President Gül participated in the iftar (fast-breaking dinner) hosted by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) where he also presented plaques to those who have been members of TOBB for 10 years and 20 years. The President, delivering a speech at the iftar, shared his pride in helping the Turkish private sector achieve business deals worth 35 billion dollars during his term in office and declared that he would continue to serve the nation. 

Welcomed by Customs and Trade Minister Hayati Yazıcı and TOBB Chairman Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu upon his arrival at TOBB’s Twin Towers, President Gül, after the iftar, delivered an address. 

IMPORTANCE OF PRIVATE SECTOR 

Evincing his happiness at being with the representatives of Turkish entrepreneurs during iftar at TOBB, President Gül wished everyone a peaceful month of Ramadan. The President, recalling that he has listened to the concerns of Turkish business leaders and the future of the private sector not only as President but also as Prime Minister and as Foreign Minister and, maintained that he has always been accompanied by the representatives of Turkish private sector in his foreign visits, paving the way for them to achieve more. 

MASSACRES IN GAZA 

President Gül continued as follows: “While we made great efforts to establish Palestinian-Israeli peace, we activated the private sector through TOBB. We went to Gaza together where we gave you the duty to take over an important industrial zone, creating areas of employment for Palestinians. However, the massacres perpetrated there did not allow you to carry out these activities. Even so, you did not give up and you conducted other important business activities in Jenin, transferring 10 million dollars to the region. We followed your activities abroad together. I personally got involved so that you could be successful in other countries. In the end, Turkey has become successful.” 

HUGE PROJECTS BEING CONDUCTED ABROAD 

President Gül further informed his audience that Turkish firms have assumed huge projects abroad which are worth 35 billion dollars during his term in office and said that “if you did not have such a great capacity, I could not have stood by you.” He later compared today’s Turkey with the Turkey in 2002, noting: “There is a huge difference between the Turkey of 2002 when we established the government and today’s Turkey in terms of accomplishments.” These achievements, he said, are not only in the economy, adding that the important legal, democratic and political reforms they have implemented in recent years have also contributed to Turkey’s successes. 

“THESE REFORMS HAVE PAVED THE WAY FOR TURKEY” 

Turkey, the President continued, has overcome many of its past acute problems in this period and declared the private sector to be the locomotive for the affirmative change in the country. Despite the fact that these reforms have made Turkey a stable country, there are still alot to do and there are also deficiencies that we should sort out, reiterated the President, pointing out that Turkey must be among the most developed countries in the decade to come. To achive this, he said, they have to raise the economic, democratic and legal standards of the country; otherwise, he added, even if the national income per capita were 30.000 dollars, they would not be accepted as a developed country.

Turkey, the President underscored, should continue implementing the necessary democratic and legal reforms so that it can create the synergy to achieve more. Drawing attention to the significance of quality education, President Gül declared Turkey to be a safe haven in the region, referring to the hundreds of thousands of Syrian people who took refuge in Turkey. 

RESPECTING DIFFERENCES 

Turkey enjoys many differences and diversities, all of which are nothing but richness, reiterated President Gül, suggesting that “when we really respect these diversities and differences, we can settle our problems through dialogue.” 

The President further recalled that his term in office ends in August, saying: “I have carried out a sacred duty to represent the Republic of Turkey and the Turkish nation for 7 years now. I have embraced all our citizens. I have opened my door even to some people who objected to my candidacy as president. I believe that I have been able to bring the state and our nation together.” 

“I WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE THE NATION” 

Nations are sometimes faced with hardships and difficulties, but such problems can be overcome with maturity, noted the President, saying that since his teenage years, he has been interested in national issues. “I have regarded serving the nation as a sacred duty and I will continue to serve the nation.” 

President Gül afterwards presented plaques to 24 names who have been members of TOBB for 10 and 20 years. After the family photo was taken, the ceremony ended.

 

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