Babacan: Meetings With Krueger Were Very Positive

ANKARA - State Minister Ali Babacan said that meetings with International Monetary Fund (IMF) First Deputy Managing Director Anne Krueger were very positive and added that there were no problem.
Babacan came together with Krueger at a dinner at Kale Washington Restaurant on Thursday evening. IMF's Turkey Representative Odd Per Brek, Executive Director Willy Kiekens and economy bureaucrat attended the dinner.
Speaking to reporters after dinner, Babacan said that the government would continue to implement policies with determination and said, ''there is a harmony between policies which we have put forth and policies which IMF proposed to Turkey. There is not any problem related to that issue.''
Stating that they were writing letter of intent for the first time, Babacan said that they reached the final level on writing letter of intent.
Babacan noted that concrete policies would be included in the letter of intent and added, ''those studies reached the final point. There are studies on budget. We would put forth our policies in a concrete way. We will invite IMF technical delegation to Turkey after all studies reach a definite point. It will be soon.''
When recalled IMF's statement that fourth review was not discussed, Babacan said that their studies were already part of fourth review and added that perhaps this detail was not given in IMF's press release.
Upon a question which issues IMF would like to clarify, Babacan said that issues in the letter of intent are clear and dates and timing of reforms can be different from the previous letters. He added that some changes happened in previous dates due to elections and they are putting them in order. He said that they put forth the implementations they will make clearly in draft letter and those details will be concrete in letter of intent and then they will invite technical delegation.
When asked whether finalization of fourth review can be extended to February, Babacan said ''I do not know the finalization. But, study of technical delegation will start soon.''
Upon a question concerning Iraq, Babacan said that IMF and Iraq are completely different issues and added that they did not discuss Iraq issue. He said that Letter of intent will not include any subjects related with Iraq issue.
When asked whether supplementary source was discussed, Babacan said that those issues will all take place in letter of intent.