Economist Taha Meli Arvas made some evaluations about Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu's visit New York. He said that "Davutoğlu's reassurance to investors was particularly important, as Turkey needs to be thought of as more than just a European country. Turkey's most pressing [current] issue is preserving the strength of the lira, however, it's becoming difficult to do so when the euro is completely melting away. The euro is down 9 percent this year and the lira is following its lead down 11 percent. Europe has become the sick-man of Europe and this contagion has affected Turkey, unfortunately. Turkey has been left to deal with the mess left behind in Iraq and Syria by other countries, and this is affecting the Turkish economy. In the mid- to long-term, however, Turkey will outperform its European neighbors and get back on track."