As EU Pares Budgets, Turkey and Korea Step up Aid Spending | EurActiv | Timothy Spence

“According to a EurActiv analysis of aid statistics, EU candidate Turkey and South Korea have been increasing aid programmes for poor nations at a time when such spending in Europe is under threat.”

“Turkey and South Korea figure among a handful of nations that are giving more to help poor countries at a time when the traditional heavy-hitters – the EU, Japan and the United States – are struggling with domestic budgetary problems and are on course to scale back their overseas commitments.”

“Sylvia Tiryaki, vice chairwoman of Istanbul Kültür University’s international relations department, said Turkey was increasingly active in overseas development not just through foreign aid, but though non-governmental and charity organisations.”

“One of the reasons is that Turkey itself is becoming richer and the economical situation here is much better than it is in other countries, so we can afford it,’ Tiryaki said in an interview from Ankara. The country, she added, is ‘undoubtedly a regional player and would look to see itself is a global player in future.”

“‘Turkey’s help to Egypt following the Arab spring and in fragile Somalia are designed to bring political and economic stability in Turkey’s back yard, because ‘poverty breeds radicalism,’ she said.”

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