ANKARA - State Minister Ali Babacan said on Monday that Turkey should increase its growth rate and make growth permanent to reach an economy in European Union (EU) standards.
Babacan attended a meeting which was held after announcement of World Bank's ''Turkey Country Economic Evaluation Report''.
Babacan said current economic program was in parallel with demands of people, realities of Turkey and universal norms at the same time.
Babacan said Turkey's successes were still appreciated inside and outside the country, noting that this happened thanks to the economic program.
Babacan said objective evaluation of the report was important to overcome deficiencies and to take necessary measures for future.
Stressing that Turkey should increase its growth rate and make this growth permanent to reach an economy in EU standards, Babacan said, ''accurate policies and importance of macro economic stability are better understood at this point.''
Babacan said it was seen in the past one year that political stability and confidence had vital importance in success of economy, and noted that Turkey reached low inflation figures, economic activity increased and growth was accelerated.
''Interest rates have decreased and foreign currency rates have become stable. Now, people can make plans for the coming years. Investors have the opportunity of looking at the economy with a long-term perspective. The current encouraging atmosphere is the result of our people's sound confidence in the government. Our government's determination together with its transparent and rationalist economy policies are the most important factors making positive contributions to this process. We will continue to take all necessary measures to maintain this positive atmosphere,'' he said.
Recalling that continuation of macro-economic stability was underlined in the report of the World Bank, Babacan said, ''macro-economic stability will continue to be the most important priority of our government. Our government will not allow any tension or any initiative aiming at disrupting the current atmosphere of stability and confidence. We will preserve our economic program with the same determination and dynamism.''
Highlighting importance of implementation of sound social policies to reach the sustainable growth performances of the World Bank, Babacan said, ''the most important deficiency of economic programs, which have been implemented in Turkey so far, was the lack of harmony with social policies. In the past, economic programs were used to be prepared by ignoring the facts in Turkey. Therefore, these policies had given rise to poverty, unemployment and unfair distribution of income.''
''We have succeeded in our social policies such as increasing salaries of the retired people, liquidating the Compulsory Savings Fund, aid of fuel, distribution of school books to students, and prevention of poverty. Also, some measures have been taken to prevent any failure in economic balances in the process of implementation,'' he added.
(AY-UK-AÖ) 15.12.2003