President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, “With an awareness of global responsibility, international cooperation and solidarity are never overlooked. We, as Turkey, have so far provided assistance to 156 countries and nine international organisations. I hope that the cooperation and solidarity established during the crisis will be permanent.”
President Erdoğan sent a video message for the event held on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Congratulating the 60th anniversary of the organization of which Turkey has been a member since its establishment, President Erdoğan said, “We, as Turkey, demonstrate effective cooperation and solidarity within the OECD in line with the objectives of ensuring balanced economic growth and development and improving welfare and employment. For 60 years, the organization has proven to be an important player in the global economy through the agreements and contracts it has drawn up, the examples of good practices, the standards it has set, and the recommendations and the statistical analyses it has shared.”
Pointing out that the Covid-19 pandemic once again showed how fragile the world was and how interconnected people were, President Erdoğan said, “As Turkey, we have made an effort not to suspend our economic activities while implementing all necessary measures for the health of our people during this period. We have stood by our entrepreneurs, tradesmen, and disadvantaged groups with the Economic Stability Shield Package and Social Protection Shield Package.”
Expressing that despite the pandemic conditions, both public institutions and private sector continued to increase their investments, President Erdoğan stated the following:
“With an awareness of global responsibility, international cooperation and solidarity are never overlooked. We, as Turkey, have so far provided assistance to 156 countries and nine international organisations. I hope that the cooperation and solidarity established during the crisis will be permanent. As I mentioned at the online G20 Leaders’ Summit held at the end of November, international cooperation should be conducted by prioritizing developing countries along with refugees and displaced persons. I believe that the OECD should play a leading role in this regard. I congratulate the Secretary-General for guiding the Organization effectively during his term of office and for prompting the member states to come to an agreement based on an understanding of cooperation.”
President Erdoğan extended his thanks to those who contributed to the organization of this event.