Turkey's economy remains strong despite coup bid: PM

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA

The July 15 foiled coup could not damage Turkey’s economy, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Wednesday.

Speaking to business leaders at the Cankaya Palace in Ankara, Yildirim said: "This despicable attempt could not succeed in damaging the economy."

He said those expecting "chaos and crisis" following the coup attempt had been disappointed. "Political stability, trust, rule of law became stronger [instead]," he said.

Despite all the propagandas, Yildirim said: "Economy is steady as a rock."

He called on the business community to explore new markets. "We have to go to new markets, Asia in particular. We have to certainly give importance on market diversity," the premier said.

He also said Turkey would start a "big campaign on development" soon and called on business leaders to participate in it.

Turkey's government said the defeated July 15 coup, which left 240 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured, was organized by followers of Fetullah Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania since 1999.

Gulen is accused of leading a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the “parallel state”.