President Erdoğan: It is time for Turkey to discuss a new constitution

 

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the nation following the Presidential Cabinet Meeting at the Presidential Complex.

“WE HAVE STARTED WORKS TO SET UP A MICROSATELLITE LAUNCHING FACILITY”

“We sent the TÜRKSAT 5A satellite, the latest sign of Turkey’s efforts and power in space studies, from the U.S. to its orbit on January 8. We will hopefully launch the 5B satellite to space at the beginning of next summer. Microsatellites gain prominence in space studies because of their low costs and technical simplicity in comparison to large satellites used for longer distances. Therefore, we have started works to set up a microsatellite launching facility in our country. We will hopefully launch to space the satellites of our own and our friends from our own facility in the not too distant future”, the President said.

“WE HAVE BEEN WORKING DAY AND NIGHT TO DEFEND TURKEY’S REGIONAL AND GLOBAL INTERESTS”

“We have been working day and night to implement new services, to boost the prosperity, peace and security of our nation, and to defend Turkey’s regional and global interests” President Erdoğan stated. “Adding to what we have already done up until now, we are also undertaking intensive preparations to build the Turkey of the future. Given the past 18 years, one of the most prominent feature of our country is that it has uninterruptedly pursued an agenda of reforms in democracy and economy.”

“WE CAN TAKE ACTION FOR A NEW CONSTITUTION IN THE PERIOD AHEAD”

Noting that it is time for Turkey to start discussions for a new constitution, President Erdoğan said: “Maybe it is time for Turkey to discuss a new constitution again. Works to draft a constitution cannot be undertaken in clandestine venues under the shadow of terror-affiliated groups and with people mentally and spiritually disconnected from the country. Works in this regard must be carried out right in front of the eyes of the people and with the participation of all of the nation’s representatives in a transparent manner, and the text to be produced must be submitted to the people for approval. If we reach a consensus on this issue with our partner within the People’s Alliance, we can take action for a new constitution in the period ahead.”

“NEW OPPORTUNITIES HAVE EMERGED FOR TURKEY DURING THE PANDEMIC”

“The coronavirus pandemic has caused problems that have profoundly affected production, consumption, trade, investments, tourism and social lives in the entire world over the past year. Even the biggest economies have started to shrink,” President Erdoğan pointed out. “We are a country that has for 18 years invested in healthcare, social security, industry and technology, that is to say in every field which will increase the prosperity of our people. And at hard times like this, we are reaping the rewards of the investments we have made. Turkey’s resilience has not been broken during the pandemic, but quite the contrary new opportunities have emerged for us.”

“ANALYSES SHOW TURKEY AND CHINA ARE THE ONLY TWO COUNTRIES WITHIN G20 TO CLOSE 2020 WITH POSITIVE GROWTH”

President Erdoğan added: “The positive effects of the economy policies we follow started to appear in our macroeconomic data as of the third quarter. Leading indicators suggest that we could close 2020 with an over one per cent growth rate. Recent international analyses show that Turkey and China are the only two countries within G20 that will be able to close 2020 with positive growth. The economy is performing quite well in terms of manufacture, consumption, investment expenditures and export.”

Noting that it is time for Turkey to start discussions for a new constitution, President Erdoğan said: “Maybe it is time for Turkey to discuss a new constitution again. Works to draft a constitution cannot be undertaken in clandestine venues under the shadow of terror-affiliated groups and with people mentally and spiritually disconnected from the country. Works in this regard must be carried out right in front of the eyes of the people and with the participation of all of the nation’s representatives in a transparent manner, and the text to be produced must be submitted to the people for approval.”