Speaking to the daily Hurriyet, economy minister Ali Babacan reiterated that the IMF-required legislations will be completed by mid-April. The minister noted that the bills on social security and banking draft had taken their final shapes. The draft on revenue directorate is expected to be discussed in the general assembly of the parliament next week, he continued.
The government should submit the drafts on social security and banking to the parliament, while passing the law on revenue directorate is a condition for the approval of the new stand-by programme by the IMF. Recently, it was announced that all ministers approved banking draft and it will be submitted to parliament this week, while there are only few ministers who have not approved the social security draft yet.
Babcan said that the IMF board meeting, where approval of the stand-by programme will be discussed, is highly likely to take place after April 16-17 (when the IMF-WB meetings are to be held). The meeting can be at the end of April or start of May, he furthered.
Regarding public banks, Babacan said that they planned to make public offering for Halk Bankasi shares through the end of 2005, or early 2006. Public offering of Ziraat Bankasi is planned to take place one year after privatisation of Halk Bankasi, he continued. If there is a serious bid, they can also privatise the banks via block sales, Babacan noted.
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