Turkey started path to 4-5% growth: Finance minister

TRABZON, Turkey

The latest figures show Turkey starting down a path to 4-5% growth, said Turkey’s treasury and finance minister on Thursday.

Berat Albayrak made the remarks in the Black Sea city of Trabzon, where he came to attend the 24th International Silk Road Businessmen Summit.

Especially over the last year, he said, Turkey fought off disinformation on its economy, but during this time the economy developed necessary defenses against external shocks.

He added that with its Operation Peace Spring in northern Syria, Turkey has grown more powerful, saying:

"Both with security and economic policies, we will carry Turkey to a much stronger tomorrow, and income levels will begin to grow stronger than before."

Turkey on Oct. 9 launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate YPG/PKK terrorists from northern Syria east of the Euphrates River in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.

Ankara wants YPG/PKK terrorists to withdraw from the region so a safe zone can be created to pave the way for the safe return of some two million refugees.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is the PKK's Syrian offshoot.

* Writing by Aysu Bicer