UPDATE 2- Turkish prime minister says economy to grow by 5-7 pct

UPDATED WITH MORE REMARKS FROM YILDIRIM

By Nilay Kar Onum, Ali Kemal Akan

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey is expected to achieve economic growth of 5-7 percent by the end of this year, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said.

Speaking at a meeting of the Turkish Industry and Business Association or TUSIAD in the capital Ankara, Yildirim said: “It [the economy] will hopefully continue growing in 2018 as well, thanks to achievements that our country has gained so far, and stability [in the country].”

He also stated that the inflation in the country will continue going down. “We are taking necessary measures for it. These measures will be effective soon.”

Yildirim noted that Turkey left behind the scenarios that predicted the country’s economy would collapse, and inflation and interest could not be controlled following the last year’s defeated coup attempt.

“If such an incident like July 15 [defeated coup] happened in any other country, it would not have recovered for 10 years,” he added.

Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.

According to Yildirim, Turkey will continue structural reforms; it will carry out tax reforms, improve the existing investment climate and realize an action plan which eases the job of investors.

Regarding Turkey’s fight against terrorism, the premier said: “Turkey neutralizes around 4,000 terrorists through Operation Euphrates Shield.”

Last year, Turkey launched Euphrates Shield, a military operation to clear the Turkish-Syrian border region of Daesh terrorists.

The number of Daesh terrorists that America neutralized in cooperation with PKK was not that high, he said.

“We are the country, which knows best who fights or do not fight against terrorism in reality,” Yildirim added.