Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that his country had thwarted attacks on its economy aimed at bringing the country to its knees, likening the motives of what he described as the attacks to the failed coup attempt in 2016.
In a speech to members of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Ankara, Erdogan added that the malicious goal behind the July 15, 2016 coup attempt was “the same behind the plans to plunge our economy into crisis, as well as the malicious aims that underlie the Gezi Park events and the terrorist actions of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). ".
He added that his government can take "new, supportive steps" in the coming period to mitigate the impact of the Corona virus pandemic, adding, "In order to become among the most powerful countries around the world, we must pass the 2023 turn without trouble, and from here the 2023 elections gain its importance."
He stressed that his government has taken measures to counter the attacks targeting Turkey's economy, "by bringing all our gold minerals abroad to our country, and strengthening our foreign exchange reserves."
In a related context, Erdogan stressed that what he described as the conspiring parties against Ankara are plotting their machinations outside Turkey's borders when they failed to achieve their goals at home, and that his country's armed forces were able, through their successful operations, to thwart the plots by combating terrorist organizations.