ISTANBUL - Turkish Health Minister Recep Akdag returned from the United States to Turkey on Saturday.
Akdag told reporters at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport that he had signed the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in the United States and it would be presented to Turkish Parliament for approval.
Noting that many issues which were asked to be implemented in the agreement were mentioned in the law which was adopted in Turkey in 1996, Akdag said that Turkey showed its determination to control tobacco sale and use by signing the agreement.
Stressing that the Convention was important because it was the first global agreement in public health, Akdag said that the convention which had been signed by 110 countries until today would come into force within 90 days after it was approved at parliaments of 40 countries.
Noting that he had met with Thoraya Obaid, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in the United States, Akdag said that they had revised the program which was carried out jointly and they decided to strengthen the central role of Turkey among regional countries regarding reproductive health. He added that Turkey would undertake an educative role for surrounding countries.
Turkish Health Minister Recep Akdag left Turkey for the United States on April 27.
Akdag signed the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in New York on April 28.
Turkey became the 107th country signing the convention.
Akdag visited M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, negotiated under the auspices of WHO, is the first legal instrument designed to reduce tobacco-related deaths and disease around the world. The Convention has provisions that set forth international minimum standards on tobacco-related issues such as tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, tax and price measures, packaging and labeling, illicit trade and protection from second-hand smoke. These provisions are designed to guide governments, which are free to legislate at higher thresholds if desired.
(GC-BRC) 01.05.2004