Former Turkish PM invites Europeans to Turkey to avoid a harsh winter

Former Turkish PM invites Europeans to Turkey to avoid a harsh winter
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Update: 09 September 2022 01:39
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"The global crises created a great opportunity for Turkey. The next century will be the century of the Turks," Binali Yildirim has said.

Turkey's former prime minister and the acting chair of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) invited Europeans to Turkey to avoid a harsh winter without sufficient energy supplies.

Speaking in a party ceremony on Thursday in the southern province of Antalya, a major summer resort, Binali Yildirim referred mockingly to the ongoing energy crisis in Europe that has been aggravated by the war in Ukraine and rising tensions between the EU and Russia.

Yildirim said:

"The people are issued fines now for even leaving the door open. Announcements are made, urging people to 'fetch charcoal for an extremely harsh winter.' So I say, they can always come here. Both the people and the climate is warm here. Antalya is waiting for them. We have a big heart. We have enough place for everyone. Let's spend this winter with them in Turkey."

Yildirim also expressed his delight for the recent increase in the average spending per tourist.

He said:

"The added value per visitor has increased by 50 percent, which means the tourism incomes will be greater even if less visitors visit. The revenue per foreign visitor is currently close to $1,000."

Former Turkish PM invites Europeans to Turkey to avoid a harsh winter

The West "in panic"

In another meeting in Antalya, Yildirim said that the 22nd century will be the century of the Turks.

"Wealth has begun to migrate in the world. It was migrating from the East to the West in the last 50 years, now it's moving from the West to the East," he said.

"So they are in a panic. The things lived during and after the pandemic caused a decline in the West's psychology, in developed countries. These global crises created a great opportunity for Turkey. We've got to see this. The next century will be the century of the Turks. This is certain. The entire Caucasus, the Middle East, the Balkans and Central Asia now anticipate Turkey's moves. They shift their positions looking at Turkey's stance. Our responsibilities are not limited to our country and nation. They cover a large area with a vast population."