Erdogan: We Have Been Further Improving Our Relations With All Countries

ANKARA - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said late on Friday, ``we have been further improving our relations with all countries. However, some circles describe our efforts as seeking for new alternatives. It is a quite shameful approach.``
In an interview with the Channel 7, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ``some circles criticize me for paying many visits to foreign countries. We have given priority to further improve our relations with all countries. As a result of our initiatives, our exports rose to 64 billion U.S. dollars. We have improved our relations with the United States, the Russian Federation, the People`s Republic of China and the neighboring countries. These circles describe our efforts as seeking for new alternatives. It is a quite shameful approach.``
Upon a question on the United States` decision to withdraw its grant, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ``Turkey no longer needed the grant from the United States aimed at cushioning its economy from the impact of the war in neighboring Iraq. The United States is aware of the fact that Turkey`s economic parameters are positive. Therefore, the United States decided to allocate the grant to Afghanistan and Iraq.``