ANKARA - State Minister Ali Babacan said on Friday that the main conditions regarding the sixth review were completed following the adoption of the banking law by the parliament.
''Last night, we demanded IMF to hold its executive directors board meeting for the sixth review as soon as possible,'' said Babacan.
Speaking to reporters, Babacan said that they could get an answer from IMF today or on Monday, adding that they expected the IMF Executive Directors to convene before Christmas.
Babacan stated that they could not give a clear calendar about privatization of Halkbank and Ziraat Bank in the letter of intent, adding that there was no definite decision about merger of Pamukbank with Halkbank. Babacan said that they favoured privatization of Pamukbank.
Babacan noted that the government would finish its value-assessment study about Vakifbank at the end of February.
Referring to the issue of redundant positions, Babacan said that the target of the government was 45,792, but the existing number exceeded 55,000 today.
Babacan stated that the investor council meeting in which heads of IMF and World Bank would also participate, would be held in Istanbul on March 15.
(Öª-AÖ) 12.12.2003