PM Erdogan: "A renewed economic crisis won't even touch Turkey"

Much like the world economic crisis of 2008 only touched Turkey slightly, any new crisis won't touch it at all, said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday. Speaking at the Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) provincial chairmen meeting, Erdogan added that Turkish officials have been closely following and taking all necessary measures concerning the recent turmoil on global markets. "We don't and won't allow the crisis to hold us captive," he added. Pointing to growing public debt and budgetary woes in eurozone countries as well as problems in the US, Erdogan said, "The worldwide economic recession now threatens the peace of both governments and societies. Turkey maintains that its development will continue under these negative global conditions."