ISTANBUL - Acting Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said on Monday that implementation of the economic programme carried out with IMF would be finished at the end of 2004, adding that ''Turkey won't need IMF after that.''
Responding to questions of journalists asking if the government decided to continue the way without IMF as announced by Prime Minister Erdogan in Malaysia, after receiving UNICEF Director General Carol Bellamy, Gul said that ''everybody wishes that. The implementation of economic programme carried out with IMF will be finished at the end of 2004, After that, Turkey won't need IMF. This is a pleasing thing. IMF, World Bank and Turkey wish that. The thing that matters is that we must do the things which we have to do. We wished there was no need for IMF programme... If we didn't have the need to take urgent aid and if we didn't have any economic crises, then IMF's relations with Turkey wouldn't be in this form today. We believe that Turkey will successfully implement and finish the implementation of this programme at the end of 2004, and then we can do our issues on our own. This is a wish. Certainly, the data of 2003 and applications of 2004 will show if we can do that. But the government and Prime Minister Erdogan think that we will be successful.''
When asked if there would not be a need for a new stand-by agreement at the end of 2004, Gul said ''yes this means so, this is very clear. We hope there won't be any need for a new stand-by. IMF, World Bank and Turkey will be pleased for that.''
When asked about agenda of the Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission's 50th meeting that would be held the same day in Istanbul, Gul stressed that the meeting to be held was very meaningful.
Noting that Turkish and EU parliamentarians had come together for fifty times, Gul said, ''this shows how we are old on the EU path. It is an issue that has half century history, and this meeting is the proof of it. Now, we have to reach the end of this path. With this respect, there is a few months of critical period in front of us to have Turkey start membership talks at the end of 2004. Turkey should show that it has fulfilled all political criteria. A significant progress has been recorded. There are several steps we have to take. One of them is the sixth adjustment package and it is now at the parliament. After it, there will probably be a new adjustment package on the agenda. After completion of these, we estimate that 2003 year progress reports on Turkey would be released in the best way.''
Replying a question which said, ''the Association of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen (Tusiad) said that Turkey should determine a new vision for the Middle East and this is what the United States is expecting. There is an expectation and demand about policies for Syria and Iran. Do you have a plan for a new vision in the Middle East?'' Gul said, ''Turkey's foreign policy is quite clear, there is not any secret thing. We are going through a dynamic process. What we have been doing is the appropriate thing. The relations between Turkey and the United States are not at a bad point as it is claimed by some circles. In order to bring them to better points, there is mutually good will, and efforts continue. Visit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary to Washington is an important visit. Thoughts of 'everything is bad' as it is said are not correct. Turkey needs the United States and the United States needs Turkey in this region. There are common things that these two countries can do.''
Stressing that as an independent and democratic country, Turkey took its decisions alone, Gul said, ''we have been expending efforts for settlement of peace and stability in the region.''
Noting that also economic growth increased if peace and stability became dominant over the region, Gul added, ''as the most important country in its region, Turkey attributes great importance to stability in the whole region. We are expending efforts for peace, tranquility, stability and cooperation. It is valid for whole region particularly our neighboring countries.''
(Öª-MS-AÖ) 16.06.2003