Erdogan Says Economy And Democracy Will Progress Together

ANKARA - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated that economy and democracy will progress together in Turkey. "Success will be achieved if they progress together. We will make it. We came here (to power) paying all the cost," Erdogan said.
Erdogan replied to criticisms in the parliament on his new government`s program.
He said that Turkey`s national income will soon exceed 400 billion USD. "Our debt to International Monetary Fund was 23.5 billion USD when we came to office. Now it is 7.7 billion USD. Central Bank reserves increased to 69.2 billion USD from 26.8 billion USD," Erdogan continued.
"We respect all kind of criticisms. We will carry our country to economic prosperity hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder," he said.
Commenting on another criticism, Erdogan reiterated his remarks, saying "zero tolerance to torture." He said, "we know our responsibilities as the government, but accusers must prove their accusations. There is nothing as torture in my country. Although they know this very well, it is impossible to understand those who applied to European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and passed incorrect news to EU."
Erdogan also said politics should not be made on the fundamental values of the Republic, stating that, "Turkish Republic is a democratic, secular and social state governed by the rule of law. This can not be discussed. You can not reject any of them. National sensitivities are the common values of all of us. We should protect national and moral values altogether. We will lose if we fail to protect them."
Erdogan said his Justice & Development (AK) Party pursues an embracing policy instead of a polarizing policy, "we are the government of 70 million. There can not be a discrimination," he remarked.
Recalling that annual inflation was calculated as 7.39 percent, Erdogan said, "inflation dropped from 30 percent to 7.39 percent. You can not deceive people."
Erdogan said tourism revenues, which was previously 8.9 billion USD, rose 17 billion USD in 2006, adding that, "this years`s rise will be more than this.