Eating in the garden

Coming downhill from the Bodrum-Milas airport toward the Gökova coast, the magnificent view bewitches you. From Dalyan to Köyceğiz to Fethiye, everywhere is beautiful. On one side the mountains and on the other the blue sea and the creeks, everywhere is historical. Sitting in Dalyan Square you can see the Kaunos ancient city. The river boats are lined up like a bracelet. But all of them are empty. Although winter has not arrived and the weather is still very warm nobody can be seen. The weather seems to ask, "I have not gone cold yet, so why is nobody here?"

We are attending a conference, "The Economic Crisis and Turkey," organized by the MHP regional branch for Muğla and Milas. The conference halls are full of people wanting to learn about whatever is going to happen to Turkey in the near future. Everybody is listening attentively and afterward ask very wise and good questions. Seeing the rising concern and awareness among people makes me glad. Nobody wants a crisis to strike Turkey. Everybody is very interested in international development and wishes Turkey will be least harmed by the recent global financial crisis.

People who grumbled about the lack of public interference years ago no longer voice this complaint. The private sector is very aware of the realities of daily life. They say they have their own difficulties, "But we had them before the crisis," they say. "The last one and a half years we have sensed some problems. But now it seems the situation is much more serious," they add.

The main issue is the need for daily funds for small-and-medium- sized-enterprises, or SMEs. Banks, on the other hand, are worried about the near future and feel the need to be careful. They even recall the loans they have paid. To solve this problem the government has to act quickly to take measures and try to solve the real economy sector’s problems.

We proposed an additional article be added to the bill that was to introduce resources to the economy. But the government’s party rejected it outright. If this could be achieved the system would start breathing more easily. It could be a solution to distribute part of the taxes that are intended to be collected under the bill to SMEs. But these are palliative measures. The main issue is to take the necessary measures to comfort the real economy sector.

Following the summit in Washington, the G-20s are restructuring. In addition, Turkey has again called for the help of the IMF. It is obvious that a relationship resembling a stand-by agreement is on the horizon. Giving the IMF an anchor to the Turkish economy may mean confidence to world markets or to Turkish local markets and financial institutions. We will see it more clearly in the near future. On the other hand, initially complaining about being strangulated and then giving in should be extensively debated.

Winter has not yet arrived in Muğla and its surroundings, but the economy is obviously in recession. This is not due to the off-season atmosphere. People are waiting to see what is going to happen next and they feel they have to be careful. Some days ago, I was invited to a TV program. The program-maker, who is a meticulous person, asked me to bring all my books. Afterward we shot a dummy program.

Then a couple of days later this person called my secretary and apologized that the program had been cancelled from "above." The excuse was concern over alarming markets. I do not know if these concerns are felt by the people governing Turkey or if some over-zealous TV station managers are trying to inveigle themselves to the powerful. But I know that everybody in Turkey has the right to learn the truth and have access to the right information.

I, for my part, try to give the correct information and present suggestions for solutions. Both in Muğla and Milas, without entering into political polemics, we voiced the right things to do and our concerns. Also, we showed people ways out of this difficult situation. You may not like what we say but do not be afraid to discuss this. Adopting this attitude and afterward saying, "Neither the government nor the opposition has any proposals or solutions," is not correct, to say the least. First, you should study our proposals and then voice whatever you think. All of us are working for Turkey’s benefit and to strengthen the Turkish economy. Let us unite forces.