STRASBOURG, France—The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on Thursday adopted a declaration calling on Turkey to recognize the “Armenian, Assyrian, and Pontic Greek genocides,” reported the press office of the Heritage Party.
The document also draws attention to “the persistent scourge of impunity in Turkey,” as a result of which basic freedoms are being violated, especially those of journalists, broadcasters and publishers.
Presented by Heritage Party delegate to the PACE Zaruhi Postanjyan, the document also stresses that reforms in Turkey are not sufficient to deal with basic human right violations in that country.
“The Criminal Code and the Anti-Terrorism Act continue to seriously impede freedom of expression in Turkey. The provisions of these pieces of legislation have been applied to disproportionately limit freedom of expression, including that of journalists, broadcasters and publishers,” the documents pointed out.
“The amendments adopted so far by Turkey have not been sufficient to deal with the root causes of violations of the right to freedom of expression found by the European Court of Human Rights. We express our particular concern about the use of civil and criminal defamation provisions and invite public figures to refrain from initiating defamation proceedings which have serious effects on media freedom,” asserted the document.
“Recalling notably the murder of Hrant Dink, advocate of the freedom of expression, we urge the authorities to step up efforts to effectively protect journalists from violence and intimidation,” urged the document.
“We are concerned about the continuous denial of the Genocide of Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians (Syriacs) by the Turkish authorities and the use of Article 301 of the Criminal Code for criminal persecution of journalists and writers,” said the document. “We strongly condemn the continuous violations of their international obligations by the authorities of Turkey.”
The PACE also adopted another document, again introduced by Postanjyan that relates to Armenia’s environmental crisis and Teghut in particular. It notes: “We strongly condemn the continuing violations of the international obligations of the Armenian government and we demand that all decisions regarding the Teghut mining exploitation be considered invalid.”
I GUESS TURKEY SHOULD RECALL ALL IT’S AMBASSADORS FROM EUROPE NOW!!!! MAYBE THEY SHOULD USE THEIR 301 CODE AGAINST PACE!
Europe is now suffering from the Turk and fanatic Muslim immigration that are destroying the fabric of Europe. Neighborhoods in Germany are turning into Turkey II. The Turks don’t want to Europeanize but what they want to is to Turkify and Islamofacize Europe. Islam is not the enemy but this perverted brand of fundementalist Islam which is a cancer. Armenians have lived in peace and brotherhood with open minded Muslims who appreciate the separation of Mosque and state.Europe is finally seeing the black clouds of the Turkish cancer.Religious extremism in any religion is dangerous.
“God is patient, but never negligent!”. The turkish govrnment will pay deerly sooner or later
for their crimes and attempts to cover them up, namely Hrant Dink’s political organized
assassination.
Restitution , Retribubution for Armenian innocent blood spilled and Geograghic concessions
henceforth by Turkey as a logical consequense to follow !!! the bully shall be bullied and the
unfair tyrants ruthlessly punished!!!!!!!