UNITED NATIONS

Economic and Social Council

Distr.
GENERAL
E/CN.4/2002/152
22 March 2002

COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Fifty-eighth session
Agenda item 11(c)


CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE QUESTION OF:
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

Note verbale dated 14 March 2002 from the Permanent Mission of Turkey to the
United Nations Office at Geneva addressed to the Office of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights

The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Turkey to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland presents its compliments to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and with reference to Commission on Human Rights document E/CN.4/2002/NGO/30, which includes a written statement by the non-governmental organization called International League for the Rights and Liberation of Peoples (LIDLIP), has the honour to bring the following to the latter's attention.

In essence, the above-mentioned document contains baseless allegations against Turkey which do not deserve a reply. Nevertheless, the Permanent Mission would like to draw the secretariat's attention to one particular point which is believed to constitute a breach of ECOSOC resolution 1996/31, entitled "Consultative relationship between the United Nations and non-governmental organizations".

At the beginning of the document E/CN.4/2002/NGO/30, there is a definition of the so-called historic region of "Pontos" and it is stated that the area concerned is now in Turkey (... the historic region of "Pontos", from Sinope (Sinop) to Trapezous (Trabzon) now in Turkey ...). And then, in the third page of the document, there is a sentence which reads: "In fact, this language [the "Pontos" language] is today illegal in Pontos and in Turkey". This sentence creates the impression that the area referred to as "Pontos" and Turkey are two separate territories. Indeed, the area referred to as "Pontos" is a part of the Black Sea region of Turkey. Thus, the document E/CN.4/2002/NGO/30 is in total disregard of the territorial integrity of Turkey.

The Government of Turkey appreciates the role and the contribution of the NGOs in the field of human rights. However, it is an established fact that the aims and purposes of the NGOs shall be in conformity with the spirit, purposes and the principles of the Charter of the United Nations (Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31, part 1, paragraph 2), that the NGOs to be accorded special consultative status because of their interest in the field of human rights should pursue the goals of promotion and protection of human rights in accordance with the spirit of the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (resolution 1996/31, part 3, paragraph 25), and that the NGOs granted consultative status by the Council shall conform at all times to the principles governing the establishment and nature of their consultative relations with the Council (resolution 1996/31, part 8, paragraph 55).

In the light of the above, the Permanent Mission requests the secretariat to take the necessary action with regard to document E/CN.4/2002/NGO/30 which is in contradiction with the principles of the Charter. The Permanent Mission kindly requests the secretariat to contact the NGO concerned with a view to withdrawing document E/CN.4/2002/NGO/30. Such a withdrawal should also be reflected in an official written document of the Commission for Human Rights.

The Permanent Mission would like to state further that, in accordance with the relevant provisions of Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31, the Government of Turkey reserves the right to take further action regarding the NGO called the International League for the Rights and Liberation of Peoples (LIDLIP).

The Permanent Mission would appreciate if the secretariat would circulate this note verbale as an official document of the fifty-eighth session of the Commission on Human Rights under agenda item 11(c) and also inform the Permanent Mission about the action taken by the secretariat regarding document E/CN.4/2002/NGO/30.

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Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
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