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Armenian and Turkish organizations Call on Turkey to Get Rid of

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  • Armenian and Turkish organizations Call on Turkey to Get Rid of

    Armenian and Turkish organizations Call on Turkey to Get Rid of Article 301


    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."

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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