Mehmet

Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu has held meetings with the chiefs of key monetary and financial institutions, including the Central Bank governor, shortly after returning from New York where he had sought to assure investors spooked by President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an?s recent tirades against the Central Bank.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu met Central Bank governor Erdem Ba?ç? and senior economy officials late on March 7 following his arrival back from New York to discuss the lira's weakness, sources at the premier's office said.
   

In a surprise move, Turkish President Tayyip Erdo?an told journalists on Friday that he would be happy if former President Abdullah Gül returned to the ranks of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Parti) for active politics. Erdo?an also added that last week the two had a telephone conversation.

Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu is in New York talking to investors. He met with U.S. businessmen and Goldman Sachs direct investors. He was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan and Finance Minister Mehmet ?im?ek.

When Turkish President Tayyip Erdo?an began a new wave of statement against the Central Bank on Jan. 16, roughly one-and-a-half months ago, one U.S. dollar was worth 2.30 Turkish Liras (TL).

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu started his three-day contacts in the U.S. on March 4.

The government should focus on adopting ?a security package? against jihadists of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) if it is really keen in its claim for providing the security of its citizens, a senior executive of main opposition Republican People?s Party (CHP) said on Feb. 19.

Turkey needs to maintain its fight against inflation until it falls below an annual rate of 5 percent for good, Finance Minister Mehmet ?im?ek said Feb. 18 in an interview on Turkish news channel CNN Türk.

He added too much talk over the Central Bank's monetary policy may cause concerns among investors.

Squatters on unregistered plots of land have paid 7 billion Turkish Liras ($2.9 billion) to the Turkish Treasury to register their ownership in the past year, the Turkish Finance Ministry said Feb. 17.

The plots of land, officially referred to as "2B," were formerly classified as a forest where construction and agricultural activity were banned.     

Finance Minister Mehmet ?im?ek has backed the Central Bank amid increasing criticism against the bank from political circles due to its rate policies.

?The Central Bank has performed well and the government trusts the bank,? ?im?ek said in a meeting in the Black Sea province of Sinop on Feb. 14.