ANKARA - World Bank Vice President Johannes Linn said on Saturday that a loan up to 4.5 billion U.S. dollars might be disbursed to Turkey on condition of a detailed review under the country assistance strategy (CAS) that covered 2004-2006 period.
Holding a press conference at the World Bank Ankara Office, Linn answered questions of reporters. Linn said that decision on assistance to Turkey under CAS would be taken at World Bank Board meeting.
When asked when the Investors Summit would convene, Linn said that the government and they had jointly decided to postpone the summit due to war conditions in Iraq and formation of the new government, adding that talks with the government on date of the summit were under way.
Replying a question about public procurement law, Linn said that the most important point for the World Bank was the adoption of it by the parliament and its implementation.
Noting that direct income support and agriculture policies had been discussed during his meetings in Ankara, Linn said that payments were in line with the planned money allocation and commitments made in the beginning of the project.
Stressing that the government had affirmed its commitments about this issue during his meetings, and as the World Bank, they were pleased with the payments, Linn said that the bank's payments under the direct income support depended on the government's abiding by its commitments.
(MS-UK) 31.05.2003