Turkey To Enact Social Security Reform This Year, Simsek

ANKARA - Turkish State Minister Mehmet Simsek said Tuesday Turkey will enact the social security reform this year.
"However, we can implement some of the articles immediately after they are adopted, while we will put into effect some others in May 2008 as they require infrastructural works," he told reporters after participating in a meeting of Turkish Industrialists` & Businessmen`s Association (TUSIAD) in Ankara.
Simsek said Turkey will invite the International Monetary Fund (IMF) team for a review when it is ready.
"The review will be over by the end of this year or early next year," he said but signaled that their priority is to pass the budget of 2008.
On the other hand, Simsek said that Turkey should take its place among the developed countries.
"What we should do is to implement reforms and close the gap (between us and industrialized countries)," he told the gathering.
Simsek said hike in energy, food and commodity prices caused a significant deviation in Turkey`s inflation target. "However, Turkey is resolved to reach its one-digit inflation target in the medium term," he also said.