Posted by Jeff from d53-152-230.try.wideopenwest.com (64.53.230.152) on Sunday, March 30, 2003 at 0:35AM :
Editorial Note:
I say that if Turkey is going to encourage Assyrians to move back there and peacefully coexist with them, and there are Assyrians who indeed want to move back in to their villages, then, it is a win-win situation.
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Assyriac-origin Turkish citizens
Beth Suryoyo Assyrian (Othuroyo) Forum
Written by Bulent Ecevit - June 12, 2001 on 29 Mar 2003 03:53:03:
Circular
2001/ 33
There are allegations that Assyriac-origin Turkish citizens, who emigrated abroad for various reasons including PKK terrorism, were encountering certain problems when they want to return to their villages, including not being allowed to use their rights over their property in their villages, and that hurdles were raised for foreigners to visit villages where Assyriacs reside. It has been evaluated that international circles might bring these allegations in front of Turkey as a new human rights violation.
In order not to let such allegations to turn into an anti-Turkey campaign, the Interior Ministry will conduct necessary works for allowing our Assyriac-origin citizens - who for various reasons moved to or settled in European countries from their villages in the state of emergency, region and in adjacent provinces - to return to their villages, if they make such a demand.
I strongly request all public institutions and establishments show necessary care and sensitivity in letting our Assyriac citizens to freely use their Constitutional, legal and democratic rights that were under the guarantee of our state.
Bulent Ecevit
Prime Minister
Distribution : (For Action)
DPMs and State Ministries - State Ministries (and attached institutions) - Ministries (to Governors by Interior Ministry)- YOK Chairman - NSC Secretary General - Institutions Attached to the Prime Ministry - Organization of Prime Ministry in capital (Ankara)
(For Information)
Presidency Secretary General
TGNA Secretary General
Hinweis: Diese Presse Erklärung von Ministerpräsident Ecevit vom 12. Juni 2001 lädt die türkischen Bürger mit assyrischer Herkunft ein in ihr Land zurückzukehren. Von seiten des Staates werden Garantien abgegeben und den Rückkehrern ihre Rechte in Aussicht gestellt. Gemeint sind die syrischen Christen aus dem Tur Abdin.
Das sind neue Töne von seiten der türkischen Regierung. Sie sind sicher auch im Zusammenhang mit den Bemühungen der Türkei zu sehen, den Weg nach Europa zu gestalten.
Bevor aber jemand zurückkehren wird, werden die Rechte der Minderheiten (vgl. Lausanner Vertrag von 1923), die Menschenrechte und die Besitzverhältnisse deutlich und verbindlich geklärt werden müssen. Der Weg ist noch lang, aber eine neue Chanze wurde eröffnet!
-- Jeff
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