UPDATE- Turkey stood tall during global economy crisis: Erdogan

ADDS STATEMENTS BY HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL LABOR ORGANIZATION IN GRAFS 7 -12

By Aynur Ekiz, Ferdi Turkten and Nazlıi Yuzbasioglu

ANKARA (AA) - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday that Turkey has overcome all economic attacks and did not collapse even in tough global economic conditions.

“Even in the times of the harshest storms in the global economy, we managed to stand tall,” Erdogan told a Family, Labor and Social Services Ministry meeting in Ankara.

“Today, we continue to walk through our targets despite all economic attacks we are exposed to,” he said, adding that they have decided to become one of the 10 biggest states in the world with an economy program that is based on production, growth and employment.

He noted there has been a significant development in the participation of women, youth and people with disabilities in the labor force in the last 17 years.

Erdogan also said as the world population increases rapidly, the matter of employment has become more complicated in a period where living standards have become higher.

“There is America and Europe, where consumption has reached incredible levels, and on the other side there is Africa and Asia, where children die of hunger, lack of water and medication,” Erdogan said, adding that the situation was grave.

Following his address Erdogan held a meeting with the Director-General of International Labor Organization, Guy Ryder, who came to Turkey to attend the Working Assembly meeting.

“Since Turkey joined the League of Nations and International Labor Organization (ILO) in 1932 our relations with Turkey has become extremely intense in different fields such as fundamental principles and rights at work, occupational health and safety and integration of refugees into the labor market,” Ryder said during the 30-minute closed-door meeting.

He expressed a determination to ensure the future of working life and the future of ILO countries.

Along with Turkey, the ILO shares the responsibility of shaping a future that provides economic security and social justice for all, he said.

Turkish Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun; Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin and Family, Labor and Social Services Minister Zehra Zumrut Selcuk were also present at the meeting.

*Writing by Sena Guler and Zehra Nur Duz