Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Speaking at the Chamber-Exchange Presidents Consultation Meeting at the Presidential Palace, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the imperturbable stance and prioritizing the economy during these extraordinary times gives the business community morale and motivation, “We, the traders and industrialists of our country, are determined to keep going without pause towards a stronger economy.” Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the nation and country have overcome a dire situation.

Stating that the danger was no ordinary coup attempt, Hisarcıklıoğlu, “This was a plan to end our dream of a great Turkey just as the country was on the rise again. Thank Allah for his assistance to the people that night. The heinous attack perpetrated by the FETÖ terror organization on the night of the 15^th of July was defeated through the national resistance and the insight of our people under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Turkey. Thank Allah for making us members of this nation.”

- TOBB community stands by the fight for democracy

Pointing out that the TOBB community, chambers and exchanges in their provinces and counties, have been honorable soldiers in the counter-junta resistance, even going so far as to having lost one of its members. Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Ömercan Açıkgöz, a TOBB ETU student, lost his life in a clash with the putschists at the Presidential Palace.

Stating that they were the first profession organization to reject this coup attempt of FETÖ origin, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said:

“As soon as the putschist declaration was read out on the TV, we made clear our stance in support of democracy and the will of the people, both online and on TV. We messaged all of our chamber and exchange members, vocational committee members throughout the 81 provinces and 160 counties to urge them to stand against this coup attempt, reaching out to 85,000 people via SMS. The following day we visited our veteran National Assembly. We paid a condolatory visit to the Speaker of the Assembly and political parties.

Attending the historic session in the National Assembly, we showed that the Turkish business community is on the side of democracy. We showed our reaction against the coup attempt on the 19^th of July as 365 chambers and exchanges of 81 provinces and 160 counties simultaneously. We declared that, ‘Democracy is indispensable; National Will is our Power; Solidarity is Our Future.’ On the 20^th of July we visited the TGNA along with 538 representatives of various NGOs. We read our Commitment to Democracy declaration. We’ve contacted all of our international partners to assure them that our democracy is robust as ever and that they should have no anxiety in regards to the situation in Turkey.

We’ve contacted the largest international investors in Turkey. We’ve informed them of the situation and the power of the Turkish economy. Throughout this process, our chambers and exchanges have been staunch defenders of democracy in all provinces and all counties from the very first moment that the junta surfaced.

In every city, our people have attended democracy watches providing logistics and food for those there.

I am proud of each and every member of the Chamber and Exchange community which has embraced democracy and the ballot.

We’ve paid a heavy price in this fight. Once again, I pray for the grace of Allah upon those who were martyred and hope for the speedy recovery of the wounded. Our government is combating the terror organization and fighting to bring those responsible to justice with all of its resources so that the blood of martyrs will not have been shed in vain.”

- Support for the state of emergency

Stating that they are in support of the decision to declare a state of emergency in order to facilitate the preservation of the public peace and uninterrupted continuity of services as the Chamber-Exchange community, Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized the need to support the government as the people of this country. TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that TOBB-Chamber-Exchange community would contribute to the aid campaign started by the government to help martyrs and veterans.

“In summation, this community has embraced democracy and the ballot fully. From here onward, we are at the service of our government and nation,” the TOBB President went on, “We will work to make this country and its people richer. We must engage in even greater works now. We must invest more, provide more jobs and export more.

With your support, we will overcome all of these traps and make our country one of the 10 largest economies of the world. TOBB and the Chamber-Exchange community, we will continue to stand by our democracy, nation and government, as we have always have.

We believe that we will become a much more safer country and achieve a stronger economy soon. Throughout this process, it is our duty to be faithful to the people and the government. We will stand against those who oppose the unity, solidarity and democracy of our country”.

- Messages from President Erdoğan

The President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, stated in his speech, “Let none doubt that 15^th of July was an attempt to render this nation without its flag, homeland and government; those who attempted this have no regard for flag, homeland nor government.”

Erdoğan spoke at the Consultation Meeting with Chamber and Exchange Presidents at the Presidential palace.

The President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, “They robbed the people, tricking them with zeal. Now it all comes to light. There is a lot more to come. We have not stopped in our fight; only paused. We will continue. There is tiredness, no laxity; we will move towards the end with determination.”

Erdoğan also stated that he has visited the family of the martyred Oğuzhan Yaşar at the TOBB ETU Hospital who unfortunately lost his life following 19 days of critical care.