Declaration by FIDH member organizations in Armenia and in Turkey

2010-04-09 15:57:00

ArmInfo. Armenian and Turkish human rights activists made a joint
statement within the frames of FIDH 37th Summit, calling on the power
and oppositional political forces of the two countries to take all the
required measures for normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations.

The statement says, in particular: "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 favourable 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".
The statement was made by the Civil Society Institute of Armenia, the
Human Rights Association (IHD, Turkey) and the Turkish Human Rights
Foundation (HRFT). FIDH expressed its full support to this statement.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress