ANKARA - Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said on Wednesday that Turkey has faced with significant demands for asylum last ten years, stating that this problem still existed.
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Adiyaman deputy Faruk Unsal who delivered a speech about June 20 World Refugee Day in the Parliamentary General Assembly said that there were 20 million refugees in the world.
Unsal stated that international community had responsibility for people who had to leave their homeland due to violation of human rights, abuse and clashes, noting that Turkey only accepted refugees coming from Europe. Recalling that Turkey and Monaco put geographical reservation to Geneva Convention relating to the refugees, Unsal said that it should be lifted.
Responding to speech of Unsal, State Minister Tuzmen stressed that international community noticed the importance of refugees and demands for asylum after the Second World War. Tuzmen noted that this problem still existed.
Tuzmen stated that Turkey has faced with demands of refugees for asylum last ten years, stating that they held training activities in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Noting that the problem of refugee and seeking asylum still existed, Tuzmen said that 35,349 people demanded for asylum since 1994. Tuzmen said that demand of 18,700 people seeking asylum were accepted, while demands of 5,289 people were rejected.
Tuzmen stated that Turkey was a big country, noting that this problem would continue to exist as long as clashes and violation of human rights existed in the world.
(EÖ-AÖ) 23.06.2004