ANKARA, Jan 25 (A.A) - World Bank Turkey Representative Ajay Chhibber said on Friday that he congratulated Turkey about the newly published Public Procurement Law, noting that this new law would bring big changes, and that it would increase transparency and justice within the system.
Addressing the International Contractors Union General Assembly, Chhibber said under the law transactions about unit prices will be based on open market competition. He said unrealistic auction prices will be no more given, and important steps will be taken in finalization of works and different criteria will be valid for bidders and the preliminary research which is necessary for auction system will be changed.
Chhibber said those who have adequate capacity may enter the tender, thus past capacity would be included in the evaluation. Changes that would be made in the previous system will be revealed as reform in Turkey.
Also, the Ministry of Public Works brought a new system including mechanical-electrical qualities. Another important point of the Public Procurement Law is the authority given to public officials. This law brings a limited authority to the concerned people. Thus, the concerned officials will not be able to take arbitrary decision, thus there will not be exploitation.
Another important article of the law is the establishment of an arranging organ. The most important function of this new authority will be consideration of the complaints in the soonest time.
Also, with the new law, the projects will be completed in the most appropriate time.
Pointing out that this law would bring a very big transparency and ligthen the burden of taxpayers, Chhibber said the other important part of this law was the threshold values.
Chhibber said the threshold values could be taken up again because the thresholds were in Turkey were higher than the other countries.
Pointing out that Turkey decided to implement this law, Chhibber said the law would be completed in January 2003. He said this law formed an important basis for future, adding that they wanted to support the works that would be made on the issue.
Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Mithat Balkan, who also addressed the General Assembly, said they would continue to support the works of Turkish constructors in foreign countries.
Balkan said acting together would be beneficial in overcoming the problems, adding that the economic crisis began to be overcome in the recent days.
Balkan said Turkey would contribute five million U.S. dollars for the coming five years on Afghanistan issue.
Meanwhile, Frank Black, the Asia Development Bank Deputy Director, said they decided to establish a special fund to be used in social, cultural and infrastructure fields in Afghanistan, stressing that contribution of Turkey to this fund would open ways for the Turkish constructors.
Black said Asia Development Bank decided to allocate 500 million U.S. dollars resource to be used in Afghanistan, noting that opening an office in Afghanistan was in question. He said Turkish constructors could enter the tenders that would be opened in this respect.
Black said the Turkish companies did not have adequate information about the bank, and gave information about the activities of the bank.
Volkan Vural, Turkey's Secretary General for the European Union (EU), who also addresed the opening of the general assembly, pointed out that the year 2002 would be very important for the renewal and improvement of the EU.
Pointing out that Turkey took important steps so far, Vural said 34 constitutional articles were amended.
Vural said, ''realization of those changes with a very strong political will is an open indication of Turkey's determination to be a full member of the EU. Turkey's efforts will continue in the yera 2002.''
Vural said Turkey's full membership would change the living of all sectors, and that it would bring the facilities to make business in new atmosphere and in bigger markets.
Stressing that this period should be used well, Vural said success could be caught more easily if everybody exerts efforts.