Babacan: There Is No Problem Between Turkey And World Bank

ANKARA - State Minister Ali Babacan said on Tuesday that there was no problem between Turkey and the World Bank.
Babacan stressed that the statements of World Bank's Representative to Turkey Ajay Chhibber had such a style which went beyond its real intention.
Responding to questions of journalists before the news conference of Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, Babacan said that he was surprised by the statements of Chhibber, adding that they contacted with Chhibber and asked him to clarify the issue. Babacan said they also contacted with the World Bank's office in Washington D.C.
Babacan stressed that there was no problem between Turkey and the World Bank. When asked if that could be evaluated as a pressure of the U.S. through the World Bank, Babacan said ''no, I don't think so because the World Bank is an international institution. The influence of the American administration can't be on it.'' Babacan stressed that the interview with Chhibber would be totally deciphered and examined in Washington D.C.
When reporters asked the same question to Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis, Yakis said that he didn't think that these statements were issued upon the pressure of the U.S.
Yakýs noted that these views should not be expressed by the press, but in the meetings.
After the news conference of Prime Minister Gul, Babacan said that ''I talked to Chhibber and he told me that the interview didn't cover many of the things he said.''
(ÖS-AÖ) 11.03.2003