Erdogan warns against fear-mongers and crisis opportunists

Turkey will continue to advance towards its development goals despite the global economic crisis, said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday. Speaking at a meeting of the Supreme Council of Science and Technology held at Middle East Technical University (ODTU), Erdogan said Turkey must turn the crisis into an opportunity, accusing some circles of intentionally trying to fuel the crisis' psychological impact on Turkey. Turkey, a country which is remarkably integrated with the global economy, can surely turn the crisis into an opportunity despite falling demand, increasing food and commodity prices, and rising inflation, he said. Erdogan also urged the financial sector to continue to loan the country's real sector and warned against crisis opportunists and fear-mongers. "Some are trying to demoralize the country's markets for their own ends," he warned. "We must face down this deceptive, demoralizing atmosphere together. Turkey has all the necessary means and financial resources for this. The main point is being honest." After the meeting, asked about a recent Council of State ruling under which municipalities with populations below 2,000 can take part in local elections next March, Erdogan said those municipalities were dissolved by Parliament on the grounds that providing local services on such a small scale is not productive. Erdogan charged that the council had overstepped its authority, saying that the Constitutional Court had approved Parliament's decision and there is no place for appeals. Constitutional Court Chief Justice Hasim Kilic also released a statement on the issue yesterday, accusing the State Council of overstepping its authority and violating the Constitution.