ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Tuesday that Turkey took comprehensive steps in protection and development of human rights particularly in the recent periods and it would continue to take such steps.
Issuing a written message upon December 10 Human Rights Day, Gul said that respect for human rights was considered as a basic criteria of being a civilized country in today's world.
''Human rights are no longer internal problems of states, they exceeded national borders and gained a universal priority following the adoption of Universal Declaration of Human Rights,'' said Gul.
Gul stressed that Turkey would continue with resolution its national and international efforts to lift all sorts of obstacles including terrorism which stood in front of individuals' fully benefiting from human rights.
Gul said that Turkey's strategy in human rights had three basic pillars, listing them as improving the laws, being party to international human rights conventions and regulating the implementations.
''In this respect human rights standard in Turkey has been upgraded in line with European human rights norms by undertaking legal regulations,'' said Gul.
Human rights constituted a whole within themselves and right to life lied on the basis of all human rights, said Gul, adding that terrorism was the main obstacle in front of the right to have a safe life.
''The terrorist attacks that took place in our country last November showed the real face of terrorism on the one hand, and on the other hand they proved once again the importance of international cooperation in protection and development of human rights in a way including fight with terrorism,'' Gul stressed.
(Öª) 09.12.2003