Chairperson of the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association Umit Boyner on Tuesday referred to the developments in the Middle East and North Africa.
“We are passing through a period when all countries have to review their positions on the matter. We should refrain from assuming urgent stances,” Boyner said while addressing the opening of TUSIAD’s High Advisory Council meeting.
“Today, Turkey is a country which is articulated with global economy, and has opportunities to have influence on developments around it. However, it has to resolve some main problems,” Boyner said.
Referring to developments in the Middle East and North Africa, Boyner said, “although dictatorships in Tunisia and Egypt were demolished at a relatively shorter time, Libya example showed us that changes in other regional countries may be more bloody. Still, when we look at from a long historical perspective, the incidents and developments we have witnessed are in line with the course of the history. People of the region, who were isolated from the global system both in economic and political means, in the end demand a regime with which they would control their own fate. We consider those demands natural and rightful.”
“Being the citizens of a country which the people of the region admire, we should extend support to them,” she noted.
Boyner wished tranquility to be restored soon in Libya without more bloodshed, “we wish construction and development of the country to start soon again,” she said.
Referring to the discussions whether Turkey could be a model for regional countries, Boyner said, “I believe that other countries may benefit from Turkey’s experiences rather than being a model country for the region.”
AA
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