Govt offering interest-free loans in Sur, SE Turkey

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (AA) – The government Sunday announced that it is extending interest-free credit to merchants in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir's Sur district, an area that suffered during clashes between the Turkish army and the PKK terrorist organization.

"Our prime minister has instructed that all tradesmen in Sur be given two-year loans of 50,000 Turkish liras [$16,944] with no repayment for six months. This loan is also zero-interest," Environment and Urbanization Minister Mehmet Ozhaseki said during a dinner in Diyarbakir.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim also attended the dinner.

Earlier Sunday, Yildirim also announced a stimulus package for the country’s east and southeastern provinces, where the PKK terror group resumed a decades-old armed campaign against the Turkish state.

Speaking in Diyarbakir, Yildirim said that Turkey would invest 10 billion Turkish liras ($3.3 billion) in the country’s eastern provinces.

“We have important news for businessmen who want to invest in our 23 eastern provinces, as well as tradesmen, farmers, young people, and women,” he said.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU, resumed attacks in July 2015.

Since then, more than 600 security personnel have been martyred and more than 7,000 PKK terrorists killed.