ARMENIAN AND TURKISH ORGANIZATIONS CALL ON TURKEY TO GET RID OF ARTICLE 301

Tert.am
17:47 09.04.10

Armenian and Turkish organizations participating in the 37th Conference
of the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) have released
a joint statement, calling on Turkey to get rid of the Article 301
which restricts the freedom of speech.

That statement reads:

"We strongly believe that the protection of human rights throughout
Turkey and the South Caucasus is key in the process of peace-building,
reconciliation and good neighborly relations between all countries
in the region, in order to ensure safety, wellbeing and dignity of
people across borders.

"We call on both countries and societies in Armenia and Turkey to join
their efforts and to create the necessary environment and processes
to compensate for any negative consequences of human rights abuses
committed in the past, including discrimination on the basis of
ethnicity, religion etc, and to adhere to the standards of human
rights protection as defined by international instruments.

"As an essential component to ensure respect for human rights
throughout the region, we call for freedom of expression in all
countries, and for the abolishment of any laws and practices that
prevent free speech, including those imposing constraints on the
Armenian-Turkish dialogue, such as Article 301 of the Criminal Code
of Turkey.

"We urge the political parties of the government and of the opposition
in Turkey and Armenia to fulfill their duties to take every necessary
step to normalize relations between the two countries and societies.

This includes the imminent need to implement the bilateral Protocols
on the normalization of diplomatic relations and the opening of mutual
borders. Progress in this direction and the process of democratic
transformation in Turkey will create a favorable environment for
addressing the painful issue of the Armenian Genocide.

"We denounce all forms of hostility fed by militaristic ambitions
and structures among nations in the region.

"To ensure sustainable peace between Armenia and Turkey and the
prevention of mutual hostility in the future, we call on the
two governments to ratify and implement the Rome Statute of the
International Criminal Court.

"With the aim of building bridges between the two societies, we call
on both countries to implement inclusive policies and to abolish
exclusive approaches in every sphere of life.

"We call on the governments and civil societies of both countries to
promote equal and just treatment in every sphere of life, including
media, education, administration, legal practices, and public life."