BY FIKRET BILA
MILLIYET- CHP leader Deniz Baykal criticized the sale of Sabah-ATV to the Calik group, including how much of yesterday`s payment price was met through loans from two state-owned banks. He accused Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan of creating a media supporting his Justice and Development Party`s (AKP) rule. `The deal stinks. We`ll closely follow the developments,` Baykal said. `A tender was launched and only one group bidded. But we know that seven other firms also applied before allegedly withdrawing under pressure from the premier. No tender like this has ever been seen anywhere in the world. The premier is forming his own media. The firm which won the tender was led by the premier`s son-in-law.`
Baykal also lashed out at the $750 million loan given by two state-owned banks, Vakifbank and Halkbank, to the Calik group. `A large amount of the price was provided by a loan from state-owned banks. How were these transactions realized? Why they get the loan from state-owned banks, and under what circumstances? We`ll pursue this,` the CHP leader said, adding that his party will bring the issue to Parliament.
Also commenting on the Calik group`s new Qatari partner, Baykal said, `We can now understand the premier`s special interest in Qatar.` He also claimed that the premier made personal efforts to help the partnership.
Concerning recent allegations about CHP payments to opposition TV station Kanalturk, Baykal said, `The Finance Ministry is trying to confuse people. There was no irregularity. We have all the documentation, including the invoices. Kanalturk did work for us, and we paid for it. We have no concern about the matter`.