ANKARA - Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that implementation of ''financial zero'' would end within a month, and a temporary budget would be prepared.
Holding a press conference at the AK Party Headquarters, Erdogan announced their one-year urgent action plan.
Erdogan said that main macroeconomic figures would be reviewed under the light of new conditions and preparatory works would be carried out for a temporary budget.
Stressing that they would make a comprehensive tax reform, Erdogan said, ''within this framework, implementation of financial zero will end within a month. Also, we will take a series of measures to provide a fair taxation in the next three months.''
''We will review current investment stock in a month, and determine the investments that have priority. We are determined to provide discipline and transparency in public accounts and transactions. Within six months, we will make an amendment to the Public Accounting Law,'' he said.
Erdogan added that they would carry out preparatory works for talks with the International Monetary Fund within the framework of the stand-by deal.
Expressing hope that AK Party government would make all Turkish citizens happy, Erdogan said that the government they would form would untie all knots before the future of Turkish people.
Stressing that AK Party government was the government of people, Erdogan said, ''when we founded AK Party, we said that everything would change. Now, we are on the eve of those days when we will start to keep our word. When I was serving as the mayor of Istanbul, there was a tradition. While we were taking the first step of an investment, we were firstly setting the schedule. We were previously announcing the dates when the foundation would be laid and when it would finish. This was binding us and accelerating the process and people were being informed. So far, we have kept all our promises. We hope that we would continue this tradition for whole Turkey. As we got a number of benefits from this tradition, as the AK Party, we are now in front of you with an urgent action plan that our government will put into practice in next one year.''
Stressing that the five-year government programme would be announced in coming days, Erdogan said, ''as the parties which came to power in last decade failed to keep their promises and unfortunately, they could not work for benefits of our people, they lost their energy in a short time and lost our people's confidence. These weak-willed governments which fogot they were representing people damaged politics and caused a confidence problem between the state and public. During a period when field of politics got narrowed, confidence problem between the state and public deepened, means of communication among different sections of the society were destroyed and people were distressed by a serious economic crisis and administration crisis, November 3 elections took place. November 3 is an historical opportunity for building of a powerful, trustworthy and safe Turkey. We won't allow missing of this chance.''
''During the political power of the AK Party, economic stability will be settled; competitive market structure will be formed, sustainable growth will be provided; favors of this sustainable growth will be distributed fairly; poverty and corruption will be eradicated; free and prosperous people will live in peace, Turkey will integrate with the modern world; Turkey will perceive differences as richness instead of source of clash; and a vision of a influential and democratic Turkey contributing to a new world will be put into practice. In order to put this vision into practice, the AK Party will use all dynamics and potential of the country. Also, the AK Party will use its political power to settle justice and development in line with demands of the people,'' he said.
Erdogan added, ''all these targets depend on making many political and administrative arrangements. These arrangements will be made in many fields from the election system to the Political Parties Law, from transparancy to local administrations reform, and to lifting of all obstacles in front of fundamental rights and freedoms. The AK Party will keep itself open to the modern developments without giving up its history, culture and values of its people. The AK Party will not tolerate populist implementations. Turkish people will reach their desires with our one-year action plan and five-year government programme.''
Erdogan said that the targets mentioned in this plan were the factors on which national compromise had been reached after being discussed for long years but could not be put into practice due to lack of determined and powerful political will.
Noting that by being the political power alone, the government they would form would meet demands that had been postponed for years in order to solve problems in Turkey, Erdogan said, ''with the power it took from our people, AK Party will solve our country's problems together with our people.''
Stating that he would explain some of the most concrete scheduled projects of the urgent action plan, Erdogan said that they would give priority to measures which aimed to overcome economic problems and pave the way for people.
Targets of the Ak Party according to the urgent action plan are as follows:
''- Within the atmosphere of confidence formed after the elections, works on budget will be carried out and basic macroeconomic aggregates will be revised under new conditions by taking basic parameters and positive developments into consideration. With this objective, firstly a temporary budget will be prepared. Works on 2003 year programme and budget will start immediately.
- Preparations regarding the stand-by agreement with the IMF will be made rapidly. In these talks, negotiations will be held with the IMF about the issue of different solutions to real sector, social policies and agriculture which are seen as the basic deficiencies in the current economic programme without destroying the basic framework of the programme.
- Shortly after formation of the new government, works on a comprehensive tax reform will start. Within this framework, financial zero implementation will end within one month. Within first three months, measures will be taken to adjust a fair taxation, tax regulations will be made simple and tax peace project will be put into practice. Under the principle of public savings regarding expenditure policies, public investments stock will be reviewed and priorities will be determined within one month.
- Single Treasury account will be spread and activated. Within first one month, discipline and transparency will be provided in accounts and transactions of public institutions. Within first six months, Public Accounting Law will be changed and a new public financial management law will be adopted. This new law will aim to provide budgetary unity, make budget preparation process more effective, focus on approach towards output instead of input, bring internal financial control, bring more flexibility and financial transparency in budget implementation.
- The supervision authority of the Government Accounting Bureau which makes supervision on behalf of the parliament will be broadened in a way which covers all state organs including Presidency, parliament and superior committees.
- Collection of receivables transferred to the Savings Deposits Fund will be accelerated and the real estates and participations of the fund will immediately be sold. Diversity of financial services will be increased.
- Privatization practices will be accelerated in order to provide formation of conditions necessary for better functioning of free market and to immediately reach targets to increase influence and productivity of economy. With this respect, enterprises that are in privatization portfolio will be reviewed within three months at the latest and a new privatization strategy and calendar will be determined. State Economic Enterprises (SEEs) which will be included in privatization portfolio will be assembled into groups and a privatization strategy and calendar will be determined for each SEE. People working abroad will be encouraged to participate in privatization implementations.
- In parallel to its finance and monetary policies, AK Party will take emergency measures for real sector and form an environment necessary for a real investment mobilization. In order to overcome problems of real sector, atmosphere of confidence will be settled at first, providing political and economic stability. Thus foresight in economy will increase and real sector enterprises will be enabled to easily take decisions about future.
- A transparent, fair and effective support system will be formed for real sector. Within first three months, incentive measures will be rearranged and a structure which supports investments without an incentive certificate will be formed in order to revive real sector.
- A state assistance framework law will be adopted regarding investments and under this, plots of vacant land will be allocated to investors without charge. Arrangements will be made to encourage direct foreign investments. Within first six months, measures will be taken to reopen facilities which were closed or reduced capacity due to economic crisis or insufficient capital and to have them make new investments.
- Measures will be taken and arrangements will be made to support small and medium scale enterprises. Arrangements will be made on protection of rights and interests of shareholders of multi-partner companies. All these arrangements will be made in close cooperation with private sector and non-governmental organizations.
- Development or exports is very important for our industry's gaining competitive structure in international field and Turkey's becoming a country that fully integrated with the global economic system. With this respect, the esixting exports potential will be used effectively and export products will be diversified and Turkey will grow in export markets.
- Within first six months, Eximbank's influence will be increased in terms of source and its functioning. Besides, strategic planning about exports will be made in cooperation with private sector. Works on decreasing the input costs of exporter companies will be accelerated.
- Energy policies is one of the most important means of reaching a sustainable development and a powerful economy that can compete on global basis. Obtaining cheap and safe energy and forming an energy market based on competition will constitute the basis of energy policies. The aim is to decrease energy prices to the world standards. With this objective, energy market will be opened to competiton within first three months.
- Turkish Radio and Television (TRT) share in electricity bills will be lifted in order to cheapen electricity prices.
- Burden on energy prices will be reduced. Besides, transfers of operation right will be completed within one year and energy loss and illegal use of energy will be decreased.
- Exploration activities in mining sector will be intensified. Economically operational mineral reserves will be increased. Raw material demands of industry, manufacturing and energy sectors will be supplied cheaply and safely. Exports of processed products will be increased. With this objective, a Boron Research Institute will be opened within first three months and exports of processed marble will be supported. Within first six months, Boron Enterprise will be granted autonomous structure. Within first one year, privatization practices in mining will be completed. Officially permitted public mineral regions will be handed over to private sector gradually.
- Unity among the sub-sectors of transportation will be provided. A transportation structure which does not damage environment will be formed in order to make the most contribution to economic growth target. With this objective, works on construction of fifteen thousand kilometers of double roads will start within first six months in order to meet demands of our country from motorway transportation. Projects for development of railway, seaway and airway infrastructure within an integrated understanding will be implemented within one year. Besides, on basis of economic feasibility works, new projects like Strait Tube Tunnel and Gebze-Halkali Suberb Train projects will be put into practice.
- Turkey's tourism potential will be activated and a great leap forward will be initiated in fields of business, congress, fair, sports and culture tourism. Besides, within first six months, a new legal framework will be formed for Tourism Ministry sectoral organizations and local administrations. Projects for tourism cities that have special legal status will be put into practice. Under this, legal arrangements which allow especially foreigners to make sales will be made.''
Erdogan said, ''the main target of our agriculture policy is to make Turkey adequate for itself in regard to main foodstuffs, to increase productivity in agricultural production and to support husbandry.''
''We will remove the defects in the Direct Income Support system which has been implemented on the basis of ownership. We will set up a structure targeting farmers with low income. Within this framework, we will take a series of urgent measures in the first three months in order to develop the husbandry sector. Also, Frame Agriculture Law will be adopted within six months. Within the scope of the social policies, some measures will be taken in order to relieve our farmers. Heavy burden on our farmers will be diminished by decreasing high taxes especially in diesel oil as a result of savings to be provided with the atmosphere of confidence, budget discipline and spending reform,'' he said.
Erdogan continued, ''according to our urgent action plan, agriculture product insurance will be approved within a year. Necessary laws will be adopted to found manufacturing organizations. Also, agriculture information system will be developed.''
''An influential structure and understanding will be made dominant in public. Reform works will be carried out in full coordination. After formation of the government, the prime ministry office will be turned into a coordination center by connecting executive institutions with the relevant ministries within the structure of the prime ministry office. Number of ministries will be decreased, and a dynamic Council of Ministers will be formed. We will give priority to the economy. We will form a sound economy ministry in order to put into practice an influential, rapid and coordinated approach in economy,'' he said.
Erdogan told reporters, ''in the first three months, a frame draft law will be prepared to put into practice the principles of total quality and administration in public administration. Deterrence of punishments given to offenders of corruption will be increased. A law will be adopted about citizens' right to receive information. Extravagance and unneccesary spendings about purchase or construction of lodgins, vehicles and public service buildings will be prevented. Within a year, corruption in public administration will be eradicated on the basis of transparancy. A general review will be made in the state. Within this framework, several arrangements will be made in public institutions. Tender regulations will be increased to the level of EU standards.''
''As the most important factor in prevention of corruption, the understanding of quality management will be developed in public services. These services will be determined clearly on the basis of security, municipality, customs encouragement, population and similar service standards and their periods, and responsible officials, institutions and units,'' he stressed.
''With a state personnel regime reform, implementation of norm staff will be put into practice in all institutions. Objective criteria will be applied for employment and promotion. Statutes will be decreased, and economic and social differences will be removed between similar statutes. Salary and wage system will be simplified and imbalances will be removed,'' he said.
Erdogan continued, ''in parallel to reform works in central administration, we will give priority to local administration reform. This reform will be made within a year. Within this framework, duties and authorities of local administrations will be redetermined. Human sources and financial structures of local administrations will be strengthened.''
He told reporters, ''Turkey will be settled on the ground of state of law immediately. All necessary arrangements will be made to this end. Within this framework, measures to prevent torture will be taken immediately. Within a month, arrangements about fundamental rights and freedoms will be made within the framework of the universal standards and norms and the EU criteria. Within three months, structure and working style of the Economic and Social Council will be redetermined. Within a year, all necessary changes will be made in the judiciary. Turkish Penal Code and Turkish Commercial Code will be updated. Also, political parties, non-governmental organizations and media organs will be briefed continuously.''
''All measures will be taken in order to provide justice in distribution of income. Families living below the poverty line will be determined and an influential relief programme will be put into practice for these families. Children of poor families will be provided education and health aid. Factors protecting poor families will be taken into consideration in all kinds of arrangements in social policies,'' he said.
Underlining importance of education in a healthy society, Erdogan told reporters, ''guidance services will be given priority in primary and secondary education. Professional and technical education will be developed. All obstacles in front of education will be removed. Universities will be provided with administrative and academic autonomy. The Higher Education Board will be reconstructed.''
Erdogan added, ''within the framework of our targets to form an influential and high quality health system, to meet health requirements of all citizens, and provide a fair distribution of health services, we will do our utmost to remove differences between state hospital, and institutional hospitals. Necessary works will be carried out to provide administrative and financial autonomy of hospitals. A general health insurance system will be set up. Implementation of family doctors will start. Preventive medicine will be spread. Private sector will be encouraged to invest in health sector. All social service activities will be gathered under a single roof. Sources of Social Cooperation and Solidarity Encouragement Fund will be increased.''
Erdogan said, ''in addition to construction of 15 thousand-kilometre highway, a dwelling mobilization will start within six months since formation of the government in order to find a solution to unemployment.''
Erdogan called on all professional organizations, non-governmental organizations and citizens to follow whether or not promises in their urgent action plan were fulfilled on time.
Noting that text of the urgent action plan could be provided from the AK Party's web-site, Erdogan said, ''our citizens can get a copy of our urgent action plan from our web-site to follow the developments. In fact, our citizens should control whether or not the AK Party fulfilled its promises on time. This will encourage us to fulfill our responsibilities.''
''We have bound ourself by publishing the text of our urgent action plan in our web-site. We are aware of how risky this attitude is. But, we will not be reluctant to take this risk for the sake of growth and development of Turkey. We will succeed in our duty with the help of the God. Because, we rely on Turkey and on ourselves,'' he added.
Erdogan said, ''the issue of political immunity does not take place among our one-year priorities. However, we target to convene the Economic and Social Council regularly. Meanwhile, media should be transparent like all other social institutions and organizations.''
When asked, ''why do you announce the urgent action plan instead of the prime minister?'' Erdogan said, ''the prime minister will announce the government programme. This is the urgent action plan of the AK Party. The government programme will be in a more detailed form than this plan.''
''We will do our utmost for the success of our friends. We will do whatever is necessary for the success of the 58th government. The success of the government will be the achievement of our political party. And, failure of the government will be failure of our political party. There is not any discrimination or any difference of opinion in the AK Party. We will maintain our communication and coordination. We will achieve a great success altogether. Otherwise, some serious difficulties can emerge. We will not force our people to pay the bill of our disagreements,'' he said.
Responding a question about Islamic-style headscarves, Erdogan said, ''during the rallies before the general elections, I explained my views clearly. We will solve all problems of our people without escalating tension. As you know, education does not have modern standards in Turkey. We will do our utmost to remove all obstacles in front of education.''
Responding another question, Erdogan said, ''rates in domestic debt interests has already dropped below 50 percent. This development has relieved us.''
Referring to statements of Prime Minister Costas Simitis of Greece, Erdogan said, ''Turkey is in favor of a fair and equal solution to the Cyprus question.''
Erdogan said, ''signing of a new stand-by agreement with the IMF is out of question. However, the current stand-by agreement will be revised with a mutual understanding. The IMF is willing to meet with the new government.''
Noting that they would prioritize the issue of the Economic and Social Council, Erdogan told reporters that they would convene the council regularly.
When asked, ''a source of 100 quadrillion Turkish liras is required for 5 thousand projects in public sector. How will you obtain this source?'' Erdogan said, ''the public stocks will be taken up as soon as possible. Within this framework, we will determine our priorities. If it is necessary, we will give up some of these projects.''
Responding a question about their inflation target within a year, Erdogan said, ''I cannot put a figure. All I can say at this point is that it is our primary target to decrease the inflation.''
Responding a question about the AK Party's tourism targets, Erdogan said, ''we will make a series of legal changes to form a fixed income in tourism and to pave the way for the future of our tourism sector.''