SARIGOL - Finance Minister Sumer Oral has said that source was ready for the Direct Support Premium payments to farmers in 2003.
Oral held several contacts in Sarigol township of southwestern province of Manisa.
Speaking at his meeting with Sarigol's Head Official Raif Ulusoy, Oral said that there was a ''serious loss'' in the Turkish economy in regard to public finance.
''It is very difficult for Turkey to develop itself and achieve growth due to the current financial structure. The growth rate has recently started to raise as a result of measures we took. The growth rate last year was four percent and we target to achieve five percent growth rate next year. Our budget is one hundred thirty-four quadrillion liras. The ministry approved the next year's direct support premium payments' source. Premium payments will start immediately. Turkey is a country of agriculture. We corrected this ground last year and we will increase our growth targets this year,'' he said.
Noting that a number of complaints had occurred due to the ongoing economic programme in Turkey, Oral said, ''we did what the programme requires. It will be much better next year. Our target is development and growth by not deviating from principles of the programme.''
Stressing that Turkey had faced uncertainties in recent years, Oral said that Cyprus and Iraq issues and now the early polls negatively affected the economy.