Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Sunday that the crisis-hit Turkish economy needs substantial foreign aid to resist the economic fallout of the September 11 attacks in the United States.
"The impact of the global economic turmoil on the Turkish economy has just started to emerge and I do not know what exactly we will need," Ecevit told the NTV news channel in an interview, the script of which was carried by Anatolia news agency.
"But certainly we need a contribution of quite a comprehensive amount," he said. Backed by the IMF and the World Bank, Turkey has been battling economic hardship since February when severe financial turmoil disrupted an earlier IMF-sponsored recovery scheme and sent the economy into one of the worst recessions in Turkey's modern history.
"Positive developments had started in July and August, but they collapsed once September 11 came," Ecevit said. He added that the attacks in the United States hit badly the tourism sector, on which Turkey was pinning great hopes this year.
Ecevit said the G-7 group of leading industrialized nations, and particularly the US, placed great importance on Turkey, a NATO ally, which has emerged as a key Muslim partner in the international drive against terrorism.
"That is why I hope they will consider the issue (of economic aid). There have already been some signals on this," the prime minister said. "I believe that meeting Turkey's financial needs is to the benefit of all. They will do what is necessary," he added.
Following talks with international donors in Washington last week, Turkish Economy Minister Kemal Dervis expressed optimism that Ankara would receive additional aid in the face of global tensions. And the Turkish representative of the World Bank, Ajay Chhibber, said on Thursday that the Bank was considering more financial aid for Ankara.
Ecevit, however, hinted that disagreements between the World Bank and the IMF were delaying a decision. "The ball is being thrown from one court to another. There are some differences between the IMF and the World Bank," he said without elaborating. If Turkey's economic program remains on track, the country will receive a total of $15.7 billion (17.2 billion euros) in aid from the two organizations by the end of the year. — (AFP, Ankara)
© Agence France Presse 2001
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
