INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE: Turkey said on Friday a British television documentary about its orphanages using Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, in an undercover role could harm the welfare of the children involved.
"The way in which the disguised Duchess of York was used to shoot scenes with a hidden camera ... was done without taking into consideration the adverse effects of such unprepared visits on the intellectual and emotional development of these children," Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said.
He made the comments about the ITV documentary, the first part of which aired this week, at a joint news conference with Foreign Secretary David Miliband, where Turkey's bid to join the European Union was relegated to a minor role.
Babacan said Turkey had launched an inquiry into the allegations made in the documentary and anyone responsible for misconduct would be charged.
But he said Turkey regretted the approach used by the makers of the programme, which he said focussed on a rehabilitation centre for mentally handicapped children.
The documentary follows Ferguson, the former wife of Queen Elizabeth's second son, as she visits state orphanages in Turkey and Romania. She poses as a potential charitable donor and secret cameras follow her.
On her visits, Ferguson saw evidence of children being tied to beds and disabled children generally neglected by overworked staff. >>> Reuters / By Adrian Croft | November 7, 2008
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