No limits on capital movement abroad, Erdogan says

By Bahattin Gonultas and Ayse Humeyra Atilgan

ANKARA

Turkey’s president on Monday said that he did not given any orders to put restrictions on the movement of capital outside the country.

"We have nothing to say against anyone who transfers resources abroad for investment purposes, or who seeking export opportunities, or engaged in trade activities," Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a conference in the capital.

"What I am talking about is that our businessmen should show a patriotic stance at a time when there are attempts to put our country under economic pressure in addition to other attacks," he said.

"If not now, then when will they protect the Turkish economy?" he asked.

His remarks came at a gathering in Ankara marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

The president called people linked to the terrorist PKK and the Terrorist Organization (FETO) -- the group behind last year’s defeated coup in Turkey -- who moved their money and national resources abroad "traitors".

Erdogan's comments come following his remarks on Sunday when he warned businessmen against moving their assets abroad, calling it a "treachery."

"I am getting some news that some businessmen are trying to move their assets abroad … This is treason," Erdogan said without giving any names or other details.

At Monday’s event, Erdogan also said how "proud" Turkey was of the rising investment abroad by its businesspeople.

Over the past 15 years, over $40 billion worth of investment was made abroad by Turkish businesspeople, he said, adding that annual exports reached $155 billion as of November.

'Disabled people should be active in every field'

Erdogan also spoke about the difficulties that people with disabilities faced in daily life.

"What matters isn’t being disabled or not being disabled, but being human," he said.

Saying that not everybody was disabled from birth, he added, "There is no assurance that we will not have to live with a disability soon."

Also stressing the significance in Islam of caring for the disabled, he said, "They are not a burden but a blessing."

Erdogan said people with disabilities need not be confined but should be active in the outside world.

"There is something that they can do in every area of life, and it is important to offer them the opportunity," he said.

He said currently over 500,000 disabled people benefited from home care services.

Also stating that the number of disabled people employed in state institutions rose over the past decade to over 52,000, Erdogan called on the private sector to hire more disabled workers.