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OSCE PA PRESIDENT ON TURKEY: MASS ARRESTS NOT EMBLEMATIC OF DEMOCRACY
June 19, 2013 - 14:40 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - OSCE PA President Wolfgang Grossruck released
the following statement regarding the situation in Turkey, which
is scheduled to host the Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly beginning June 29 in Istanbul:
"Like our colleagues around the world, we have been monitoring with
great concern the ongoing events throughout Turkey. The Parliamentary
Assembly has a unique interest in these affairs as our membership
will gather in Istanbul next week for our Annual Session.
I appreciate the assurances we received yesterday from the Grand
National Assembly of Turkey that the situation in Istanbul will not
hinder our meetings and debates on important global issues related
to our shared commitments to comprehensive security, including
human rights.
Regarding the demonstrations, we stand in support of peaceful
expression and assembly. Whether demonstrators stand or sit,
speak or sing, they have a basic right to assemble and freely
express themselves, and it must be respected. However, we respect a
government's duty to preserve peaceful order, and those who commit
and incite vandalism and violence should receive a proportionate
response from law enforcement.
I welcome the dialogue the government entered into with several
protest leaders last week and I regret that violence continued after
these discussions. Mass arrests and the use of force to disrupt
demonstrations are not emblematic of a democracy nor are such actions
in line with Turkey's commitments as an OSCE participating State."
June 19, 2013 - 14:40 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - OSCE PA President Wolfgang Grossruck released
the following statement regarding the situation in Turkey, which
is scheduled to host the Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly beginning June 29 in Istanbul:
"Like our colleagues around the world, we have been monitoring with
great concern the ongoing events throughout Turkey. The Parliamentary
Assembly has a unique interest in these affairs as our membership
will gather in Istanbul next week for our Annual Session.
I appreciate the assurances we received yesterday from the Grand
National Assembly of Turkey that the situation in Istanbul will not
hinder our meetings and debates on important global issues related
to our shared commitments to comprehensive security, including
human rights.
Regarding the demonstrations, we stand in support of peaceful
expression and assembly. Whether demonstrators stand or sit,
speak or sing, they have a basic right to assemble and freely
express themselves, and it must be respected. However, we respect a
government's duty to preserve peaceful order, and those who commit
and incite vandalism and violence should receive a proportionate
response from law enforcement.
I welcome the dialogue the government entered into with several
protest leaders last week and I regret that violence continued after
these discussions. Mass arrests and the use of force to disrupt
demonstrations are not emblematic of a democracy nor are such actions
in line with Turkey's commitments as an OSCE participating State."