Turkey To Evaluate Un Human Rights Review 'Diligently'

Turkey will evaluate recommendations of the UN Human Rights Council with "great diligence" following its periodic review, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc has said.



In his address to the council Thursday in Geneva, Arinc said Turkey had already approved around 199 of its recommendations, while 52 others would be reviewed at a later stage.



The Universal Periodic Review of human rights, conducted by the UN Human Rights Council, is a process that all 193 UN member states, including Turkey undergo every four years.



"The recommendations given to us in a spirit of constructive cooperation during the second round of the review will be evaluated with great diligence," the deputy prime minister said in his address.



"The recommendations will contribute to our ongoing efforts to improve human rights," he added.



Arinc and his delegation attended the second review of Turkey's human rights record Tuesday to present the country's human rights policy and practices.



Some countries on the review panel had expressed concern over the rights of minorities, including the Alevi community and the Kurds, while the U.S. criticized Turkey for "the rise of anti-Semitism."



About U.S. criticism, Arinc said Tuesday that anti-Semitism was "alien" to Turkey. 



"Throughout history, Turkish homeland provided a safe haven to Jewish people who fled various persecutions. Any isolated anti-Semitic statements are condemned at the highest level and the necessary judicial or administrative steps are taken," he added.



Some countries expressed concern over freedom of expression, media and freedom of assembly and detained journalists, and advised Turkey to "remove restrictions" on access to information, as well as renew its commitments to guaranteeing the rule of law. 



In response, Arinc had said that freedom of expression and media freedom were considered an "indispensable part of democratic order" and efforts were continuously being made for their improvement. He also said that the detention of journalists was in no way related to their journalistic activities. 



www.aa.com.tr/en - Cenevre