[Intl-tobacco] Turkey: PM sponsors refurbishment of parliament building

[Robert Weissman]

                               Turkish Daily News
                                 April 21, 2001

Restored Building of First Assembly Opens with Ceremony

   The First Assembly Building, which was restored by the Culture Ministry
with contributions from Philip Morris-Sabanci and Haci Omer Sabanci
Foundation, opened as the Museum of the Independence War with a ceremony
yesterday.

   Culture Minister Istemihan Talay, in his opening speech, said: "This
building has a very distinguished place in Turkish history.  There is this
sentence on the door: 'The Unit of Guardians, no excuse can replace
success.' Today, the restoration of this building ... is a successful
fulfillment of our duties and responsibilities to our history."

   Talay also asked the Sabanci Group to sponsor the restoration of the
Ethnographic Museum. Sabanci replied to this appeal positively. Sakip
Sabanci said it was not appropriate behaviour to continually demand
everything from the state, and emphasized the importance of free
enterprise and foreign investments. After his speech, Sabanci was given a
plaque by the Culture Ministry for his contribution to the restoration.

   The opening ceremony was attended by, among others, Parliament Deputy
Chairman Murat Sokmenoglu, Culture Minister Istemihan Talay, Education
Minister Metin Bostancioglu, National Security Council General Secretary
Gen. Cumhur Asparuk, Court of Cassation Chairman Sami Selcuk, Accounting
Court Chairman Kamil Mutluer, of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Deputy
Chairman Sevket Bulent Yahnici, Ankara Governor Yahya Gur, and on the
behalf of the sponsor firm, businessman Sakip Sabanci.

-- 
Robert Weissman	<rob@essential.org>
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