ANKARA - Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan said on Saturday that they would not impose new taxes.
Unakitan received International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation headed by Turkey Desk Chief Juha Kahkonen.
Following the meeting, Unakitan told reporters that they would never permit extravagance.
Unakitan guessed that work on the budget could be completed before the Feast of Sacrifice and said that the budget would be submitted to government and then to parliament after the feast.
Reaching the primary surplus target of 6.5 percent was the main target of the government, Unakitan noted.
Unakitan said, ''we are achieving this target. You will see it in the budget. It is very important for us.''
Asked if there was any disagreement with the IMF, Unakitan said that there was not any in his opinion.
Unakitan went on saying, ''budgets are prepared by prediction. And, what is important is to keep to the prediction. There are expenditures and revenues in the budgets. The main target is to reach these targets at the end of the year. What is important is to make a realistic calculation and reach the prediction at the end of the year.''
They did not think of increasing taxes by calling it ''a package of measures,'' Unakitan said.
Unakitan pointed out that they followed a firm financial policy and budget policy.
They would not make any expenditures outside appropriations, Unakitan said and added that they limited transfer among appropriations.
SAHIN RECEIVES IMF DELEGATION
ANKARA - State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin received on Sunday International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation headed by Turkey Desk Chief Juha Kahkonen.
Following the meeting, Sahin told reporters that they debated the fourth review.
Sahin said that they took up redundant personnel during their meeting and reviewed privatization of Vakifbank.
Sahin noted that they evaluated restructuring works in the public sector and informed the delegation about the initiatives.
Asked if the delegation was satisfied with the steps taken regarding redundant personnel, Sahin said, ''there is no doubt that we are behind that target. A commitment was made to dismiss 30 thousand employees by the end of October. A total of 20,146 employees were urged to retire as a part of these initiatives during our former contacts. 653 more people retired after that meeting. Of course, this is not sufficient. We think that progress can be taken about this issue not only in public enterprises but also in the institutions within the scope of privatization.''
When asked if a new schedule was set, Sahin said that they did not make any timetable and that the deadline was June 30, 2003. He noted that targets should be achieved till that day.
Sahin quoted the IMF delegation as saying that those targets had to be reached and said that calling it liquidation was not right.
''We told all these to the delegation. The target can be kept by asking those who reach the age of retirement to retire. Some public institutions need civil servants. Some can be transferred there. But, legal arrangements are necessary for transfer of an employee to another institution. We all explained these during our meeting,'' Sahin said.
Sahin noted that there were around 10 thousand employees in State Economic Enterprises (SEEs) and institutions within the scope of privatization who reached the age of retirement.
''If we are able to increase steps regarding this issue, we can record a significant progress without offending anybody. We also explained it to the delegation. We cannot neglect social dimension of the measures we have been taken. We cannot put into practice efforts which may cause tension. We are a democratic country,'' Sahin said.
Sahin added, ''we cannot take some steps by taking non-governmental organizations and especially the unions against us. We can take steps by holding deliberations with them. We cannot urge those who are not at the age of retirement to retire. I explained all these during our meeting. The delegation is not thinking in an opposite way.''