Brekk: Turkish Economy Has Become Very Solid

ANTALYA - Odd Per Brekk, the senior resident representative of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Turkey, said on Saturday that the Turkish economy had become very solid, adding, ''now eruption of an economic crisis, disaster like the one in 2001 is impossible.''
Brekk attended Fifth Economy Summit in Kemer town of southern province of Antalya and answered questions.
When asked when Turkey would get rid of the IMF, Brekk said, ''the IMF-backed program that the government is implementing will finish at the end 2004. We have one and a half years. It is too early to discuss preparation of a new program. Our target is to well-assess the current program. Turkish economy is convenient for growth. Turkey has talented and hard-working people. Its resources are perfect. And its geopolitical position is convenient for economic growth.''
Noting that Turkey's economic program had recorded significant success in the last one year, Brekk said that Turkey exceeded its targets in growth and inflation.
Stressing that Turkish economy had further strengthened as a result of the economic program, Brekk said that Turkey's experiencing another economic crisis like the one in 2001 was impossible.
Referring to criticisms about the IMF in Turkey, Brekk said, ''we want Turkey to reach its target of growth. As the IMF, we lend the highest amount of money to Turkey except for Brazil. We target to activate Turkey's growth potential with this program. IMF does not intervene in Turkey's affairs. There are representatives from 185 countries in the IMF Board. We work on behalf of the whole world not for a few countries.''
(MS-UK) 22.06.2003