Ankara Anatolia news agency (30.07.11) reports from Ankara that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed the nation on the new Constitution, the economy, terrorism and the Cyprus problem.

Erdogan said that Turkey had always stood and will continue to stand by the “TRNC”, moreover it would keep implementing major projects that would help the country improve economically.

Regarding the ongoing negotiation process in the island, Erdogan said that a settlement in Cyprus would be for the benefit of both Cypriot communities and the whole region.

“Turkey will neither allow efforts targeting TRNC, nor will it negotiate with the European Union or any other party on the Cyprus issue,” Erdogan stated.

Moreover, Erdogan said that Turkey would replace its Constitution with a comprehensive, pluralistic, liberating and integrating one. He expressed commitment to his Government’s targets for 2023, the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey, and promised that Turkey’s transformation would continue. “Accordingly, I believe that our most important task is to write a democratic and liberating Constitution which would meet today’s needs,” Erdogan said.

On terrorism, Erdogan said that Turkey had made significant headway to become a happier and more prosperous country, adding: “Turkey achieved it thanks to stability and trust, democratic reforms and furthering brotherhood. We will continue to walk on this path and help our country grow by cementing our brotherhood. Turkey is leaving behind its troubles and overcoming its chronic problems. Some powers, who are jealous of Turkey’s growth and its development, have made moves to stop it. I would like to make it clear that terrorism targets Turkey’s growth, progress, development, prosperity and most importantly its brotherhood.”

Regarding the economy, Erdogan said that the Turkish statistics authority TurkStat’s data revealed that the economy had grown by 11% in the first quarter of 2011, becoming the fastest growing economy in the world. Reiterating Turkey’s goal to become one of the world’s top 10 economies by the year 2023, Erdogan said that the Government had made all its plans to achieve such a goal.