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ANKARA, April 1 (AFP)
- Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer has vetoed a
law authorizing the full sale of a private
television network to foreign investors on grounds
that the transaction was contrary to national
interests, his press service reported.
It said he rejected the measure, approved by the
legislature March 16, late Thursday.
"This situation is consistent with neither the
national interest nor that of a public utility," the
president argued in a 12-page statement. The
legislation had been introduced by the ruling
Justice and Development Party.
Parliament approved the measure to be able to sell
the Star television network that had belonged the
Uzan family, which became implicated in a financial
scandal.
Initially known as Magic Box, it was established in
1990 as Turkey's first private television network.
It is currently under control of the state.
The Turkish president is entitled to veto a draft
law only once. If parliament again adopts the
measure and submits to him in the same form Sezer
will be obliged to promulgate it.
But he would then be able to challenge the law at
the constitutional court.
AFP
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