Erdogan: Turkey's dealings with IMF thing of the past

By Muhammet Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - The era of Turkey taking out loans from the IMF is long since gone, said the Turkish president on Tuesday.

"Turkey closed its IMF chapter in May 2013 and, God willing, it will not be re-opened," Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the parliamentary group of his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party.

Erdogan slammed claims by the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) that Turkey would seek to negotiate with the IMF after the local elections set for March 31.

"It is clear who has gone to the IMF. Those that have the CHP mentality, they have gone to the IMF," he said.

Some six years ago Turkey paid off the entirety of its debt to the international lending institution.

Erdogan also said the CHP shares in Turkish private lender Isbank would be transferred to the state Treasury.

"This parliament will take that decision [soon]," he added.

After the death in 1938 of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Turkish Republic, his 28.1 percent stake in Isbank was transferred to the CHP.

The CHP does not take any share of the profits from Isbank, but has four seats on its administrative board.