Erdogan, 'Democracy package appeals to 76-million people in Turkey'

"It (democracy package) appeals to 76-million people in Turkey," Erdogan said speaking at the celebrations of Ahi community in Turkey's central Anatolian province of Kırsehir. Stating he felt proud of the Ahi community, which can be described as a socio-economic system of discipline aiming to create an ideal society based on honesty in commerce, Erdogan said, "Such a rooted organisation having so widespread influence is rare around the world." He said the foundations of Ahi community were laid in 13th century by Ahi Evren, a Turkish Muslim preacher who established the Ahi guild, teaching the society human rights, moral values, the good and the evil, social solidarity, cooperation, justice, law and much more.  "Ahi community always acted as the reliable defender of our social structure," Turkish premier said. "The existing unfair trading system which accepts the people as 'consumers' and makes the poor even poorer need to learn a lot from Ahi community." Stating that denial of Ahi culture would be the denial of Turkish civilisation, Erdogan underlined the importance of passing the tradition to next generations. "Ahi means generous, honest, brave, brother," is what Turkish premier said concerning the Ahi community.  During his speech, Erdogan also touched on the MILGEM project (a project of producing national ships), and said Turkey was one of the ten countries across the world which could produce its own warships.