Babacan: "Around the world, Turkey is seen as a success story"

Turkey is seen worldwide as a success story due to its stable economic performance even in times of crisis, said Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan on Tuesday. Speaking after a visit to the Eskisehir Chamber of Commerce (ETO), Babacan linked Turkey's rising economic reputation to confidence in its economic policies. "Every week we see several international newspapers or magazines talking about Turkey's successes," he said. "How did that happen? Trust is the key here. When it is sustained, everything becomes easier, but when you can't forge an atmosphere of trust, everything becomes more difficult." Babacan also argued that the constitutional reforms set to face a referendum on Sept. 12 are all about making Turkey a more stable country and raising its democracy to modern standards. "I don't think Turkey can reach higher goals under its present order and constitutional framework," he explained. "Look at the countries with a gross domestic product [GDP] of $30,000-40,000. No country at that level has a poorly functioning democracy or one under the shadow of a coup. We, too, should close the door on that era and make Turkey a civilian democracy, to open our horizons and make it a much more predictable country. The essence of the constitutional reform package is precisely this; making Turkey a more predictable country and putting its democracy in a higher league."