AMMAN - State Minister Ali Babacan said on Monday that they continued talks with U.S. administrators for 2-3 weeks about the 8.5 billion U.S. dollars credit.
Babacan, currently in Amman within the scope of World Economic Forum extraordinary meeting, said there was no obstacle with the United States regarding the credit, and that U.S. side wanted the details to be completed soon.
Babacan said there was not any need for the talks to be face to face from now on, stating that this process could be completed by telephone if necessary.
Babacan said all the accounts in economy had been made as if this credit would not come, and noted that coming of the credit would have a positive contribution to economy in this respect.
Babacan said payment plan of this credit would be determined under the conditions of Turkey.
Babacan said Investment Council meeting, which had been planned to take place last July, but which could not take place because of political instability, would take place in September-October, and that high ranking officials of more than 20 international companies would visit Turkey in this respect.
Stressing that they were in great effort to attract direct foreign capital, Babacan said they would not only invite foreign investors to Turkey, but that they would arrange promotion meetings in countries like France, Germany and Canada to inform them.
Babacan said again in this framework, he and Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan will go to centers like Switzerland, Boston and New York as of July 7 and give information to investors about privatization, shares and debenture bond market.
Babacan said Finance Minister Unakitan will meet with institutions, which are closely interested in privatization in Turkey, one by one.
Babacan said within the framework of the meeting in Amman, he had positive talks with many international companies and bank administrators.
Responding to a question about International Monetary Fund (IMF) and fifth review, Babacan said delay of the 5th review for one or two weeks was not an important issue.
Responding to another question, Babacan said they did not take up with the IMF an issue like combining fifth and sixth reviews.
Babacan recalled that U.S. Bechtel company got an infrastructure tender in Iraq worth of 680 million U.S. dollars, stating that it was natural that U.S. and British companies were the companies who got the most share in Iraq.
(AY-AÖ) 23.06.2003