Hurryet Daily News- Turkey is seeking to conduct trade with Russia, China and Iran in local currencies, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an said Dec. 3.�

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a shopping mall in Istanbul, Erdo?an said that he had proposed Russian President Vladimir Putin to conduct trade between the two countries with local currencies.

�I proposed Putin the following: Let�s do our trade in local currencies. Whatever I buy [from you] I shall pay you in Russian ruble, and whatever you buy from me make the payment in Turkish Liras,� said Erdo?an on Dec. 3.

He added that he had made the same offer to China and Iran and his offer was found reasonable.

�We have given the necessary instructions to our central banks and we will try to conduct such [trade] relationships between us through this way,� Erdo?an said.

Erdo?an also reiterated his call to Turkish citizens to convert their foreign exchange into gold or the Turkish Lira.

�Those who keep foreign currency under their mattress should come and turn them into lira or gold,� he said.

Stating that one should convert their foreign currencies to liras or gold against the ones who want to �destroy us,� Erdo?an also answered the question of �what if we lose money,� with this currency conversion.

�Look, this is national, there is fruitfulness in this, you will not make a loss from this, do not worry,� said Erdo?an, adding that it was actually the �other,� a reference to foreign currencies, that would make the Turkish people lose because �the other is a representative of the imperial logic.�

�You look after your money that is local and national; the money will stay here,� he said.