Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Speaking at the consultation meeting held at the Prime Ministry, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu thanked Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım for his efforts in regards to strengthening the real sector as well as increasing its competitive power. Stating that the importance put on arbitration is encouraging for the business community, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Now, under your leadership, our government will be able to focus on the economy; will begin a new leap forward in growth and reforms. We will do our part in all of this.”

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 19^th 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 20^th 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.”

- “We stand by democracy”

“I am proud of each and every member of the Chamber and Exchange community which has embraced democracy and the ballot.

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 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.”

- Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım

Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said, “Thanks to our martyrs, the nation has written an epic tale. These murderers planned everything meticulously in regards to what they would do following the coup, but they forgot one thing: the nation. They did not take into account the national will and the nation.”

Expressing his pleasure in meeting with such select organizations which contribute so much to the development and growth of Turkey, Yıldırım pointed out the fact that there are representatives from 365 chambers and exchanges from 81 provinces and 160 counties present at the meeting.

Touching on the coup attempt of July 15^th by Fethullahists, Prime Minister Yıldırım stated that businesspeople have stood by the nation, justice and the rule of law without a doubt.

Stating that a new era has begun, PM Yıldırım said, “July 15^th is a political turning point of Turkish politics. July 15^th is, in a sense, the victory of the struggle for Independence.”

Extending his condolences for those who lost their lives in fighting the coup and the PKK, Yıldırım said that the sacrifice of martyrs will never be forgotten.