15.02.2025 16:13
Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç responded to TÜSİAD's statement criticizing current policies, particularly in the economy, through foreign investors. Minister Tunç expressed his reaction by saying, "If legal security had not been established in our country and the principle of a democratic rule of law had not been reinforced, how could our exports, which were 36 billion dollars in 2002, have exceeded 260 billion dollars today?"
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Ömer Aras, the Chairman of TÜSİAD High Advisory Council, stated during the TÜSİAD General Assembly meeting that "As a country, our morale is low. We are experiencing a trust crisis. The reason for this is the collapsing system," which has become the focus of reactions. Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç responded sharply to TÜSİAD YIK Chairman Ömer Aras, citing the increase in the number of foreigners coming to our country as an example.
Justice Minister Tunç emphasized that Turkey has led the strengthening of the economy with its reliable legal framework, stating that thanks to legal security, the investment environment has increased from only 15 billion dollars in 2002 to 272 billion dollars today. Minister Tunç noted that Turkey has also become a favorite for foreign investors due to its stable policies in the legal system and justice structure.
"TURKEY IS NOT THE OLD TURKEY"
Minister Tunç stressed that the judiciary in Turkey is independent and impartial, saying, "Civil society organizations can express their opinions to the fullest. There is a free environment. However, while making this statement, it is necessary to avoid statements aimed at influencing the judiciary regarding ongoing investigations within the framework of our constitution and laws. Turkey is not the old Turkey. We still see a few who do not understand that the Turkey guided by privileged groups is now behind us. They should know that no one or no organization can see itself above the will of the nation and the law. Our nation should have no doubt that we will respond to any attempt to interfere with the legal order as strongly as we have until now and will continue to do so." he said.
"FOREIGN INVESTORS CAME TO OUR COUNTRY THANKS TO LEGAL SECURITY"
Minister Tunç stated that significant progress has been made in the investment environment in Turkey over the past 22 years thanks to legal security, continuing his remarks as follows:
"When we compare the investment environment in Turkey 22 years ago with today's investment environment, there is a huge difference. The legal order in Turkey has developed and continues to develop thanks to the strengthening of legal security. If the investment environment in Turkey had not developed and legal security had not been ensured, could we have achieved such success in exports and attracting foreign capital to our country today? Look, thanks to this environment of trust, how has our export, which was 36 billion dollars in 2002, risen to over 260 billion dollars today? If there were no production environment, investment environment, and legal security in Turkey, could producers fill organized industrial zones with factories? The ones who will see this most clearly are our businessmen and industrialists. The amount of foreign capital, which was only 15 billion dollars in total until 2002, has approached 272 billion dollars in our country. If there were no legal security in Turkey, would foreign capital come to Turkey?"
"THEY CANNOT SMEAR OUR COUNTRY WITH INDEXES PREPARED AT A DESK"
Minister Tunç stated that the nation would not allow smear campaigns against Turkey through certain indexes prepared at desks, saying, "They are trying to smear our country with indexes that compare Turkey to countries that do not even have democracy or free elections, showing them ahead of Turkey. The national will will never trust those lists. No one can smear our country with indexes prepared at a desk. There is democracy in Turkey, there is freedom of thought. There is free enterprise, and there is foreign capital investment that has risen from 15 billion to 272 billion. There is export that has risen from 35 billion dollars to 262 billion dollars. Would this rise happen without legal security? There are foreigners trying to show Turkey down with baseless indexes. There are also politicians in our country who take these lists from these foreigners and act as their spokespersons." he said.
REMARKABLE STATEMENTS FROM TÜSİAD
During the General Assembly of TÜSİAD held on February 13, the Chairman of the High Advisory Council Ömer Aras and the Chairman of the Board of Directors Orhan Turan spoke.
Starting his speech by saying, "As a country, our morale is low. We are experiencing a trust crisis," TÜSİAD High Advisory Council Chairman Ömer Aras talked about the tragic events that have come to the public's attention since the earthquakes on February 6, which raised suspicions of negligence, and made the following observations:
"We have rules, but many do not comply, and there is insufficient oversight. The main reason for these deaths is the system's malfunction. It is very clear how this system can be fixed. The responsible parties must resign, be held accountable, and competent individuals must take their places."
Describing the recent developments in political events as "extraordinary," Aras also referred to incidents such as detentions in municipalities belonging to opposition parties, the arrest of manager Ayşe Barım, and the expulsion of lieutenants from the TSK.
Aras stated, "We can say that these rapidly occurring events have created 'concern in society and shaken trust.' We also see that a chronic problem, such as pre-trial detention becoming the rule rather than the exception, has not been resolved even if laws change."
In his speech, Aras mentioned positive developments such as inflation decreasing, albeit not at the expected rate, and the strengthening of the Central Bank's reserves, emphasizing the need for continued determination in the fight against inflation.
THE FIRST REACTION CAME FROM MINISTER TUNÇ
The first reaction to the statements from the TÜSİAD management came from Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç. In a statement on his social media account, Minister Tunç said, "No one should have any doubt that we will respond to any attempt to interfere with the legal order as strongly as we have until now and will continue to do so."
AK Party Spokesperson Ömer Çelik stated, "TÜSİAD should make an effort to leave behind its poor record on democracy."
AN INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN INITIATED
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office determined that TÜSİAD YIK Chairman Aras used expressions in his speech at the association's general assembly on February 13 that contained suggestions and guidance to the judiciary regarding certain investigations and prosecutions.
The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office initiated an investigation ex officio, evaluating that Aras's statements were false and likely to disrupt public peace, on charges of "attempting to influence fair trial" and "publicly disseminating false information."
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