ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul met on Monday with Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan and Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler.
Issues concerning the three ministry, Blue Stream project and joint projects were taken up in the meeting and recent developments regarding Blue Stream project and selling of Manavgat water were revised.
Upon questions of reporters following the meeting, Unakitan said that he gave directions for reopening an auction for Petrochemical Holding Inc. (Petkim) and the auction would be opened rapidly.
Upon a question regarding additional budget, Unakitan recalled that State Minister Ali Babacan had earlier announced additional budget need and he said that additional budget need would be met with source transfer within the existing budget, not with new sources and that they would apply to Parliament for this.
When asked selling of Manavgat water to Israel, Guler said that they could go to Israel for signing of a possible agreement next week. He added that negotiations regarding Blue Stream were continuing.
Unakitan and Guler said that they did not take up the issues regarding Iraq during the meeting.
(GC-Öª) 11.08.2003