ANKARA - The law on constitutional amendments was presented to the Presidential Palace on Monday.
The law which the parliament approved on May 7 was sent to the Presidential Palace in the afternoon by the parliament.
The Constitution grants President Ahmet Necdet Sezer a period of fifteen days to examine the law which amends ten articles of the Constitution.
The law won't be put to referendum automatically as it was approved by 457 votes. However, it can be put to referendum if President Ahmet Necdet Sezer deems it appropriate. Besides, President Sezer has the authority to send the law back to the parliament.
The law amends articles 10, 15, 17, 30, 38, 87, 90, 131, 143 and 160 of the Constitution.
Under the law, expression saying ''woman and man have equal rights'' was added to the Constitution's Article 10 on ''Equality Before the Law''; expression saying ''execution of death sentence'' was excluded from the Constitution's Article 15 on ''Suspension of the Exercise of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms'', and expression saying ''in case of fulfillment of death sentences ruled out by courts...'' was excluded from the Constitution's Article 17 on ''Personal Inviolability, Material and Spiritual Entity of the Individual''.
Under the law, the Constitution's Article 30 on ''Protection of Printing Facilities'' was amended as ''a printing press or its annexes duly established as a publishing house under law shall not be seized, confiscated, or barred from operation on the grounds of being an instrument of crime.''
Article 30 of the Constitution earlier said, ''a printing press or its annexes duly established as a publishing house under law shall not be seized, confiscated, or barred from operation on the grounds of being an instrument of crime, except in cases where it is convicted of offences against the indivisible integrity of the State with its territory and nation, against the fundamental principles of the Republic or against national security.''
Under the law, the Constitution's Article 38 on ''Principles Relating to Offences and Penalties'' was changed by correcting expression saying ''general confiscation shall not be imposed as a penalty'' as ''death sentence and general confiscation shall not be imposed as a penalty''.
Also, expression in the same article saying ''no citizen shall be extradited to a foreign country on account of an offence'' was changed as ''no citizen shall be extradited to a foreign country on account of an offence except for commitments stemming from Turkey's signing the International Court of Justice''.
Under the law, expression saying ''deciding on fulfillment of death sentences passed by the courts'' was removed from the Constitution's Article 87 on ''Functions and Powers of the Turkish Grand National Assembly''.
With the amendment to the Constitution's Article 90 on ''Ratification of International Treaties'', provisions of international agreements will be taken as basis in case of possible incompatibilities that may erupt between the international agreements on fundamental rights and freedoms and laws that have different provisions on the same issues.
Under the law, the General Staff will no more send representatives to Higher Education Board (YOK). With the amendment to the Constitution's Article 131 on ''Superior Bodies of Higher Education'', members of Higher Education Council will be composed of members elected by Council of Ministers and universities and appointed by the President of the Republic, and the members will be comprised in accordance with the numbers, qualifications and procedure prescribed by law, priority being given to those who have served successfully as faculty members as rectors.
Under the law, State Security Courts (DGMs) will be annulled and the Constitution's Article 143 on the foundation of DGMs will be no more in effect.
The law also amends the Constitution's Article 160 on ''Audit Court'' which allows the Audit Court to follow procedure for auditing, on behalf of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, of State property in possession of the Armed Forces.
(MS-AÖ) 10.05.2004