Turkey: President launches National Solidarity Campaign

By Erdogan Cagatay Zontur and Havva Kara Aydin

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey's president on Monday launched a National Solidarity Campaign to aid fight against the novel coronavirus, donating seven months of his own salary to the initiative.

"I am launching the campaign personally by donating my seven-month salary," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in his address to the nation.

Cabinet members in the government and lawmakers have donated 5.2 million Turkish liras ($791,000) to the campaign, he added.

He also stressed that Turkey enjoys better medical facilities compared to other countries fighting the virus, saying: "Turkey is rapidly opening new hospitals while also strengthening the existing ones."

"We are determined to use all means to curb the spread of the virus", he added.