Elkatmis: There Should Not Be Any Discrimination Among People In Respect Of Their Belief

ANKARA - Parliamentary Human Rights Commission Chairman Mehmet Elkatmis said on Monday that there should not be any discrimination among people in respect of their belief.
Elkatmis held a press conference following his meeting with Swedish Parliamentary Commission headed by Anne Ludvigsson.
Upon questions on minorities in Turkey, Elkatmis said that they believed that there should be freedom of belief and it was a right of human beings.
Elkatmis said, ''we are exerting efforts to improve human rights in our country. Obstacles are put forward construction of mosques in Greece. There are problems in many countries.''
Wishing that there would not be any pressure in any part of the world, Elkatmis said, ''there should not be any pressure in Turkey either. The president should not think such a thing. People should not be discriminated in respect of their belief. The president should not think so and make discrimination. Nobody should make discrimination.''
Noting that he returned the invitation for October 29 Republic Day reception to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Elkatmis said, ''these are not good things. Everybody is equal in a country irrespective of their beliefs, thoughts and race. The presidential office doesn't have the authority and right to make such a discrimination.''
Elkatmis noted that his views on European Union (EU) membership had changed but at the same time, EU had changed.
EU was formed as a ''Christian union'' at the beginning, Elkatmis stated. But, he said, the borders of EU had been widened now.
Elkatmis said that the Swedish delegation invited him to a conference on human rights to be held in Sweden on October 21.
The Commission was pleased with developments in human rights in Turkey, Elkatmis pointed out.
Elkatmis said, ''I told them that we are determined to implement adjustment laws and to become an EU member. I stated that we can have some deficiencies but they will be eliminated and overcome.''
Swedish parliamentarians told him that they were ready to extend every support to Turkey's EU membership, Elkatmis noted.
Elkatmis said, ''I told them that we will be pleased if they will be beside us.''
Stating that millions of Turkish citizens living in Europe were natural members of EU, Elkatmis showed parliamentarian Yilmaz Kerimoglu, who was in the delegation, as an example.
Elkatmis said that members of the delegation asked him if the commission faced some obstacles before its initiatives and questions on women-men equality, minorities, human rights, education, non-governmental organization, torture and mal-treatment.
Noting that he and the delegation were pleased with their meeting, Elkatmis said that they wanted to continue dialogue.
(BRC- AÖ) 03.11.2003