Turkish finance minister said that the international community should unite to stand against Washington’s unilateral sanctions and financial attacks.

Iran press/Asia: The United States cannot be trusted to run the world’s economy, and the international community should unite against Washington’s unilateral sanctions and financial attacks, Turkish Finance and Treasury Minister Berat Albayrak has said in an op-ed published by Foreign Policy magazine.

“The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump overtly attacked the economy of a fellow NATO member through sanctions and tariffs”, Turkish Finance and Treasury Minister added.

“It was one of the most disappointing moments in the history of the alliance between Turkey and America,” Albayrak said.

“In adopting sanctions against Turkey, the Trump administration invoked the flimsy pretext of an ongoing legal case involving a U.S. citizen with strong links to terrorist activities targeting Turkey’s peace and stability,” he said.

Related:

Erdogan says the U.S. pastor case is not a successful plan to collapse Turkey

In Aug. 31, Turkish president said, Its impossible to collapse turkey under the cover of american pastor case.

 

Albayrak referred to Andrew Brunson, the U.S. pastor at the centre of the feud with the United States, who is accused by Turkey of conducting espionage for two outlawed organisations.

The finance minister, went on to say that the plunge in the lira’s value had been caused by negative propaganda and attacks on the financial system, rather than any underlying problems with governance.

Turkey’s financial structure and banking system have not experienced any fundamental changes during this time,” Albayrak said.

Erdo?an’s dislike of interest rates is well-known, and is thought to be the reason Turkey’s central bank has consistently failed to raise interest despite high inflation.

“As has been the case for the last 16 years under the Justice and Development Party’s successive governments, the Turkish Central Bank’s independence, effectiveness, and leading role in monetary policy will remain a priority for the government,” Albayrak said.

"The assault on the Turkish economy must be viewed as an example of how the senseless use of economic pressure as a political weapon poses serious global risks. By acting together with Turkey now, other countries can also help it create a common strategy to avoid artificial crises in the future,” he said.

The continued detention of Brunson has become a lightning rod in strained relations between Turkey and the U.S., leading Washington to slap economic and political sanctions on its NATO ally.

Read More:

US sanctions on two Turkish ministers over detention of American pastor

Turkish court rejects U.S. pastor's appeal

Turkey-U.S. relations under threat as long as pastor remains in jail