Turkish National Committee
on
Tobacco and Health

Mr. Max Mosley
President
Federation Internationale de l'Automobile
2 chemin de Blandonnet
case postale 296
CH 1215
Geneva
SWITZERLAND

16th August 2002

Dear Mr. Mosley,

As Turkish Automobile Federation has applied to the Formula One World Championship in Turkey, we write to express our serious concern on tobacco advertising, especially through the sponsorship of Formula One that is targeted to increase smoking in teenagers.

We were very encouraged by your declaration at the 1998 Australian Grand Prix that the FIA would end tobacco sponsorship by 2002, and also your contribution to the World No-Smoking Day 2002 with the theme "Tobacco Free Sports" organized by World Health Organization. However, this year, a member of parliament proposed a bill to Turkish Parliament to declare Formula One races exempt from tobacco advertising ban which was established in 1996 with the great efforts of Turkish public health community. This legal application created the contention among general public that Formula one races would be used as a"Troyan Horse" for making tobacco advertising ban ineffective. With the great public rejection, the member of the parliament had to withdraw his bill in May 2002.

Turkish Automobile Federation persuaded the government, facing a general election in two months, to endorse the Formula One Championship application. Turkish Automobile Federation promised the government that Formula One Championship will be held Tobacco-free in Turkey due to an agreement between FIA and WHO which will be effective in 2004. However, World Health Organization did not confirm such an agreement between FIA and WHO.

We would like to inform you on behalf of 30 non-governmental organizations that Turkish public and health professionals are determined to preserve the tobacco advertising ban and not have it violated .
There is increasing evidence drawn from confidential tobacco industry documents released through litigation in the United States, about the intent and rationale for using Formula One to market cigarettes to the young. A recent research carried out in Turkey among 6000, 13-17 year old students showed that half of the teenagers see tobacco advertising on race cars and the ones that are more exposed to these internationally televised races tend to start smoking more. We do hope your association would not be associated with increased smoking and therefore to additional unnecessary illness and untimely death with the recruitment of teenage smokers.

We , with faith in your good will , would kindly ask an official announcement by your federation that the races in Turkey will not carry any tobacco advertising and FIA does not have any intention to violate Turkish laws or addict Turkish youth to a deadly product.

Yours sincerely
Prof Nazmi Bilir
Chair Turkish National Committee
On Tobacco and Health