Turkey budget surplus target achievable-IMF

"We have a mission underway discussing the 2003 budget plans and achieving the 6.5 percent primary surplus targets, which we view as good and appropriate and achievable," IMF spokesman Tom Dawson told a regular press briefing.
"I think we have a pretty good record of missions in Turkey," Dawson added.
A visiting IMF inspection team is going through the government’s budget plans for 2003, checking that planned spending on pension and other measures can be matched by revenue sources. Approval of the 2003 budget would be a major step toward the release of a long-delayed $1.6 billion loan payment.