ANKARA - State Minister Ali Babacan said on Saturday that they discussed in detail the mechanisms of support that could be extended by the U.S. government in order to prevent economic program from being negatively affected by international developments during contacts of U.S. Department of the Treasury Undersecretary John Taylor and State Department Undersecretary Marc Grossman.
Babacan issued a statement that they agreed that this support should be in line with the needs, quick, flexible, efficient and be adapted to changing conditions.
Taylor and Grossman paid a visit to Ankara upon his invitation as a continuation of consultations launched in Washington on December 11 and 12, Babacan said.
Babacan noted that international political and economic developments would be evaluated during contacts and they especially took up positive performance in growth and inflation targets as of the end of 2002.
They drew the attention of the U.S. delegation that ''financial and structural reform process should be continued rapidly as planned and positive developments should not be deteriorated with possible external shocks,'' Babacan stated.
Babacan stressed that the government continued its efforts to prevent developments related with Iraq should not slow down acceleration in economy.
It was of utmost importance for the region and the world to reach a peaceful solution in Iraq, Babacan said.
Babacan pointed out that they decided to continue consultations between Turkey and the United States related with possible future developments.
Taylor and Grossman left Ankara on Saturday following their two-day contacts. The two U.S. officials met with State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener, State Minister Ali Babacan, Presidential Foreign Affairs Chief Adviser Tacan Ildem, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal, Treasury Undersecretary Faik Oztrak, State Planning Organization (DPT) Ahmet Tiktik, and Central Bank Governor Sureyya Serdengecti.