Turkey 'land of stability,' says Premier Yildirim

ISTANBUL

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Saturday that Turkey was a land of stability and security for neighboring countries in times of instability.

Speaking at a launch ceremony for the logistics support vessel TCG Lieutenant Gungor Durmus in Istanbul, Yildirim said Turkey had advanced to a level where not only could it meet its needs, but it could also satisfy its allies thanks to a $35 billion investment in the defense industry.

"We will not settle with this," Yildirim said. "We did not forget the embargoes we faced during the 1970s, during the Cyprus Peace Operation."

The eastern Mediterranean island was divided into a Turkish Cypriot state in the north and a Greek Cypriot administration in the south after a 1974 military coup on the island was followed by the intervention of Turkey as a guarantor power.

After the Turkish operation ended, the U.S. imposed an arms embargo on Turkey, Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriot Administration.

Yildirim added that Turkey started investing on defense since the 1980s and "covered a lot of ground since then to become nationalized".

Yildirim also addressed the July 15 coup attempt, saying Turkey's army had "lost its reputation unjustly".

"The reason for this loss of reputation is the bloody-handed FETO [Fetullah Terrorist Organization] members. Our nation has an old head on young shoulders. It separated terrorists from our beloved soldiers and taught them a lesson," he said.

At least 240 people, including members of the security forces and civilians, were martyred during the failed putsch, and more than 1,500 others were wounded as they protested against it.