ANKARA - "In the past 84 years, Turkey grew, developed, went through crisis, entered stagnation but succeeded to overcome all challenges and survived and reach its goals," said Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on Monday.
In an address to the public opinion broadcast on television channels on Monday, Erdogan said:
"The will displayed in the past 4.5 years to change Turkey and to ensure a steady growth, has shown how strong our desire to enhance Turkey is," told PM Erdogan.
"The new republic founded with blood and knowledge, overcame difficulties, obstacles and challenges and arrived to the present day with hard work and struggle," noted Erdogan.
"However, the place where we have to be, where we desire to be, and the status where we wish to be in is certainly not the current point where we are at," he remarked.
"Just as we have overcome all difficulties and obstacles in the past 4.5 years, we will reach a degree of civilization that Turkey deserves, by working hand in hand with the same spirit and will," stated Erdogan.
"To understand well our republican history will help us comprehend what the republic is capable of doing and how much potential it has," stressed Erdogan.
"For this reason, we must remember with high appreciation all those who have served this dear republic of ours," underlined Erdogan.
"What we need is love, unity, solidarity and cooperation. We must love each other... This is a great patrimony," said Erdogan.
"If we approach each other with love, we can overcome all obstacles and challenges. Turkey badly needs this love for each other. Nonetheless, what we have accomplished so far is a great step never taken before," underscored Erdogan.
He indicated that "Turkey must preserve this climate of stability and peace. We must be careful not to harm the climate of stability we have reached! We must consider it as a duty to reach the goals of our republic."
On the other hand, Premier Erdogan said a highway project connecting the northern city of Samsun to Sarp gate (on the Turkey-Georgia border) along the Black Sea coastline were completed under the term of his government.
PM also stated that the government was endeavouring for a rural developmental project, also known as KOYDES, and that 87 percent of it was completed.
"These efforts have already begun yielding fruits thanks to your support. I believe that our country's future will be much brighter than today," Erdogan concluded.