WEF executive chairman Schwab says Turkey gives hope to everyone

World Economic Forum's founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab who arrived in Istanbul yesterday was hosted by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead of the summit. The meeting which lasted for approximately half an hour was closed to the press. In his opening speech at the forum, Schwab said Turkey has reconciled a predominantly Muslim population with a secular democracy, which makes it a model for other countries that are fighting to throw off dictatorships. "Turkey, a country that lies at the furthermost east of the west and the furthermost west of the east, is the fastest-growing country among OECD countries despite the economic crisis. This gives hope to everyone," Schwab noted.