Turkey's operation in Syria causing it economic losses
The world has been expressing opposition to the ongoing Turkish invasion of northeastern Syria, especially after everybody had realized that the operation is driven by the plans of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to occupy this part of Syria.
The Turkish regime has shown nothing in
the face of this opposition but defiance. Nevertheless, Turkey seems to be in
for a new type of problems because of its operation in northeastern Syria.
The new type of problems is an economic
one. The labor union of the German automaker Volkswagon turned down a plan by
the company to invest $1.4 billion in the construction of a factory in Turkey. The
union said in a statement that it would continue to oppose the construction of
the new factory until the Turkish invasion of northeastern Syria comes to an
end.
“I want to say very clearly: the labor
representatives repudiate approval as long as Turkey tries to reach its
political goals with war and force,” VW’s global works council chief and
supervisory board member Bernd Osterloh said in remarks published in a staff
newspaper seen by Bloomberg.
A member of the labor union of the
company ruled out the possibility of constructing the factory in the Turkish
city of Izmir. He described the reports and the images coming from Syria as
"terrifying".
Turkey, he said, has to stop the
onslaught on northeastern Syria so that we can think against of constructing
the factory.
The same member said the attack violates
international laws and opens the door wide for a new wave of refugees.
We cannot imagine investing billions of
Euros in a country like this, he said.
The German automaker had succumbed to
the desire of its labor union and said it would delay the construction of the
factory in Turkey.
Volkswagon added that it would closely
monitor the situation in Turkey.
Recession
The decision of the German automaker
compounds the economic difficulties facing Turkey at present. The Turkish lira
lost 30% of its value in 2018 and an additional 15% this year.
This comes against the background of the
new custom duties the US imposed on steel and aluminum imports from other
countries.
