Turkish State Minister and EU chief negotiator Ali Babacan told reporters in Ankara that energy imports cost an extra $16.5 billion in 2006, and that without those elevated energy bills, the current account deficit would have been 4.2 percentage points smaller. He said the deficit is monitored carefully but does not represent a serious threat, urging analysts to remain realistic in their assessments.
Babacan endorsed recent remarks by Central Bank Governor Durmus Yilmaz on financing gaps in the non-financial sector, noting that similar cautions had been raised before. He stressed that foreign-currency income and debt obligations should be kept in balance, and warned that excluding individuals from such analyses could lead to flawed conclusions.
On economic growth, Babacan said the rate came in slightly below expectations but posed no risk to the 5 percent target. He highlighted Türkiye's achievement of a 6.5 percent primary surplus for five consecutive years as a key pillar of financial stability.
Babacan said year-end inflation would most likely finish in single digits. He also noted a slowdown in domestic consumption alongside steady investment spending, describing that combination as favorable for both inflation control and reducing the current account deficit. On social security reform, he said fundamental policy directions would hold regardless of any Supreme Court ruling.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in December 2006, in its own words.