President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday said Ankara鈥檚 cooperation with Qatar will continue to strengthen in various sectors including defense, trade, tourism and energy.
鈥淲e have never forgotten and will never forget the solidarity displayed to our country by our Qatari brothers on nearly all issues -- from the July 15 coup attempt to the attacks in August on [our] exchange rates [Turkish lira],鈥� Erdogan said, speaking at a meeting of automotive manufacturer BMC in Turkey鈥檚 northwestern province of Sakarya.
Underlining that the partnership between the two countries is based on a 鈥渨in-win鈥� model, Erdogan said that Ankara and Doha consolidated their friendship with every 鈥渃alamity鈥� they faced.
Erdogan underlined that Turkey鈥檚 progress would continue in its defense industry, which he said had more than halved its foreign dependence -- from 80 percent in 2002 to 35 percent at present.
鈥淭urkey鈥檚 military capacity and economic, political and diplomatic capabilities should be robust,鈥� he said, adding that the deterrence of its defense sector had to be 鈥減articularly鈥� high.
In a separate rally in Sakarya, Erdogan underlined his government鈥檚 support for local entrepreneurs in the defense sector.
"Believe me, were it not for our armed and unarmed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), ships, artillery, missiles, armored vehicles, communications systems and software, they would not allow us even to breath," he said.
Erdogan also reiterated that education, health, justice and security will be the priorities of his administration.
By Ahmet Salih Alacaci
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr