Erdogan: "Turkey's foreign policy has grown more active"

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that Turkey has been pursuing a more active foreign policy in recent years, in line with its geopolitical and strategic position, and added that it has played a key role on many international issues. Speaking at a ceremony finalizing a tank contract set to be carried out by the Defense Industry Undersecretariat in cooperation with Koc Holding's Otokar, Erdogan said, "Turkey has taken an active role in solving many regional and global problems. The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) must have a national defense industry to help our armed forces improve its supplies and capabilities. Our goal is to carry our necessary activities through making as much use of the facilities and capabilities of the national industry as we can. There have been many projects in recent years to meet the needs of the TSK. I would like to reaffirm my belief that by 2011, we will exceed our target to meet at least half of the needs of the TSK through local resources."