NAPLES - Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu said on Monday that it was too early to say that ''deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would not continue after 2004. ''
Hisarciklioglu, accompanied by many deputies and businessmen who visited International Trade Fair in Naples, Italy, told reporters that the IMF did not say that ''it wanted to come'' to Turkey and that the IMF came to Turkey because Turkey wanted.
He considered statements of government officials that ''they would not go on with IMF after 2004'' as an intention, Hisarciklioglu emphasized.
Hisarciklioglu noted that it was the present government who would provide that and said, ''but, it is too early to say that 'deal with IMF will not continue after 2004.' Hopefully, economy will become robust till the half of 2004 and debts can be rolled over without any need for IMF. We hope we can get indebted without any need for international organizations. But, it is too early to say this.''
Turkey had recorded a big change and transformation till 1991, Hisarciklioglu stated.
But, Hisarciklioglu said, it could not continue that process.
Hisarciklioglu pointed out that they wanted change and transformation for ''a Turkey controlled by institutions and boards.''
''Turkey should be a country which gives equality in opportunities to everybody,'' Hisarciklioglu said.
Hisarciklioglu noted that change would be difficult but drew the attention that changes had to be made.
In that framework, public should be restructured as soon as possible, Hisarciklioglu stated.
Hisarciklioglu said, ''although eight months have passed since the government was formed, no serious step has come related with restructuring of the public. Prof. Omer Dincer made a presentation 15 days ago. The outlines were presented but it seems that something is shown as being done but it is not done. Radical changes are necessary. AK Party should take lessons from the past. We have seen that those who didn't make changes in the previous terms could not be re-elected. We have to restructure public. But, there is nothing concrete. Those who use this authority doesn't want to give it back.''
Opposing to closure of Halk Bankasi or its merging with Ziraat Bankasi, Hisarciklioglu said that bank had a good portfolio with 1 million small and medium scale enterprises and customers.
Hisarciklioglu said, ''closing Halkbank means treachery. This bank should continue to exist. It can be privatized. But, it will be a big mistake to merge it with Ziraat Bankasi as IMF wants. We won't interfere with whom loans will be given. But, we will help determination of macro policy.''
Giving information about his recent contacts in the United States, Hisarciklioglu said that Turkish-U.S. communication channels were operating in a more robust way when compared with the previous month.
Hisarciklioglu emphasized that the visit of Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal to the United States was effective on that betterment.
They saw that the United States intensified on issues like Armenia and Cyprus not Iran and Syria in the new period, Hisarciklioglu noted.
Hisarciklioglu emphasized that the following process would be a period when the United States would be more effective on whole world as the only force and underlined that Turkey should improve its economic relations with that country.
They would form ''Turkish Investment and Trade Center'' in Washington to that end, Hisarciklioglu stated.
Hisarciklioglu said that they would both take place on the table and direct investors with that center, which would have branches in Los Angeles and New York.
When growth rate was increasing, employment decreased in Turkey, Hisarciklioglu pointed out and said that it was a very dangerous development.
Expressing his views about the foreign exchange rates, Hisarciklioglu said that rates were related with market conditions.
Hisarciklioglu noted, ''(Central Bank should intervene in foreign exchange rate.) Then, we are unaware of the Central Bank Law.''
That bank only had an authority regarding interest rates, Hisarciklioglu stated.
Hisarciklioglu underlined that the Central Bank could not intervene in foreign exchange rates according to the economic program.
As confidence was built on economic program and as people believed that there would not be any crises, there would be transition from dollar to lira, Hisarciklioglu said.
Hisarciklioglu called on circles who were responsible for the rumors of crises to be careful.
The first five-month figures were positive, Hisarciklioglu said.
Hisarciklioglu noted, ''growth rate seems to be over 5 percent. Primary surplus has a positive course and it seems possible to keep 20 percent inflation target. Today, the biggest problem of Turkey is the maturity of debts and interest rates. Interest rates flow over 46 percent. They should be below that rate so that the average interest rate this year will be around 46 percent. The inflation rate is 20 percent, debt interest is 50 percent. This is the point that the government should be careful about. Interest rates should be reduced for a robust economy.''
TOBB Chairman Hisarciklioglu criticized the fact that tax arrangements were not made in the determined dates.
(BRC-AÖ) 30.06.2003