Dr. Cengiz Yavilioğlu, the Deputy Minister ofFinance made the opening speech of the third panel session entitled as “Coups and their Impacts on Economy” ofthe International Congress of Democracy.Stating the fact that the coup plottershad long established a “regime ofguardianship” against the national sovereignty, he went on as follows:

 ORGANIZATION OF GUARDIANSHIP

 “Although thesovereignty belongs unconditionally to the nation, certain constitutionalbodies had been established to exercise national sovereignty.Such bodies havebecome the tools of guardianship.The National Security Council and ConstitutionalCourt are deemed to be such organizations taking the national will undercontrol. Even, the office of President, was contemplated as a tool to suppressthe elected government.This is nothing but a guardianship, and a kind ofretreat in contemplation of democracy.The aim on April 16 is to correct sucherror and put an end to the understanding of guardianship.Now, the nation wishesto desert the guardianship and exercise its will through the administratorselected through such will”.

 Dr. Yavilioğlu, reminding the opposition ofTurkish nation with heart and soul against the coup being schemed upon thenation itself and the elected members, advised that the coups and coalitiongovernment always retreated Turkey and citizens exhibited their strong stanceagainst coups through the political attitude adopted following such coups.

THE GROWTH STOLEN

The moderator of the panel, Dr. Şeref Oğuz, theauthor of Start Daily, said that the coups which took place in Turkey wereintended to undermine and cause the collapse of the country’s economy. Dr. Oğuzwent on to say that such coups were warded off with the help of the resistanceof the Turkish nation however, such have economic costs involved, “Praise the Lord, we have not collapsed and stillstand tall.But, this has a substantial cost impact. July 15 coup attempt isreckoned to have a cost impact of around 300 Billion US Dollars excluding anyopportunity costs. And the growth of Turkey was unfortunately stolen”.

CALL TO GUESTS

İlhan Erdal, Ankara Chair of MÜSİAD, who tookstage for his speech during the panel, said that the July 15 coup attempt wasgotten over in a short notice thanks to swift response of President Erdoğan andthe resistance of the public, and addressed the foreign guests as follows:

“You witness thedamages inflicted by FETÖ organization on Turkey from abroad and we do locallyhere in Turkey. They are striving to create a perception about Turkey, being anunstable and unsecure country, continually struggling with terrorism.It is socrucial for you to personally witness that Turkey is a peaceful and securecountry. I want to emphasize on behalf of the non-governmental organizations inour country that we are ready to come over to your country to tell therealities of Turkey in case you invite us to your countries.Furthermore, we arekeen on improving the commerce between Turkey and your countries and establishcooperation.We can collectively improve our legal system, economy and democracyand support each other.Turkey covered a substantial ground in terms of advancedtechnology and value added production.In such context, we trust that we canachieve great things together”.

“NOBODY CONJURS UPSCHEMING A COUP”

Murat Akyüz, the Chairman of Turkish exportedAssembly (TİM), starting his speech as “Iwitness an amazing organization which is organized by a trade union out here. Iextend my gratitude to Öz Orman-İş and contributing TİKA in this regard”, saidthat “Our economy found out a way toremove the repercussions of July 15 in a very short notice. Despite everyadversity, it started to increase its export sales.For the time being, ourexport figures are way above the figures prevailing in the week of the coup”.

Akyüz further stated that the greatest battlein the economy is the one waged against unemployment, and that the campaigninitiated by the President to that effect encourages themselves as the PrivateSector.

Murat Akyüz, expressing his feelings thatoccurrence of such coup attempt of July 15 in a year like 2016 surprisedeveryone, went on as saying“Whatever itis, nation’s will shall never be superseded. Our public well exhibited how itmay embrace his will and democracy. From now onward, nobody would ever conjureup scheming any coup”.

“A SETTLEMENT INSTEAD OFA FIGHT”

Prof. Dr. Ömer Faruk Çolak, the economy advisorof TİSK, who took stage to make his speech, referring to the fact that wecannot ignore the relations of the coup plotters of July 15 with the globalorganizations, stated that Turkey must develop new policies and rules relatedto such fact.

Prof. Dr. Çolak, citing that an economic growthrate of around 3 percent is not sufficient for Turkey, said that the economicgrowth should rise to around 5 percent and Turkey has the necessary power andresources to achieve that.

Drawing attention to the laborers andemployment in economy, Prof. Dr. Çolakadvised that the raise in women’sinvolvement in employment from 25 percent to 33 percent is a favorabledevelopment and it is critically important to sort out the issues existing inthe business life through negotiation, but not fighting in contemplation ofconfidence in economy.

Prof. Dr. Çolak went on as “we have learned a great deal from the coup attempt, and was able tosee what we could do.From now on, we have shown no one will ever attempt to dothings like that”.