Gul Says Human Rights Report Prepared By Advisory Board Includes Unjust Accusations Against P.M.

ANKARA - Turkish FM Abdullah Gul said on Friday that the human rights report prepared by an advisory board included unjust accusations against Turkish prime minister and parliament, and noted, ''we haven't charged anybody to prepare such a report''.
Gul told reporters that the report was written in a very bad style, and included unjust accusations against Turkish parliament and prime minister.
Noting that Turkey had made great progress in human rights, Gul stated that the entire world appreciated Turkish government's willingness to improve human rights.
Drawing attention that there were very positive developments regarding Turkey in Europe, Gul said, ''unfortunately, we are facing such polemics in such a critical stage.''
Gul listed exclusion of Turkey from the monitoring process of the Council of Europe (COE), European Commission's recommendation to European Union (EU) member states to open negotiations with Turkey, and statement of the president of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) as some of the examples of positive developments.
President of CPT had stated, ''rules and laws in Turkey are equal to those in the most development countries in Europe. Whoever says there is systematic torture in Turkey is wrong.''
Stating that the report was not presented to the government, Gul pointed out that the human rights advisory board was established in 2001, had 78 members, prepared reports and submitted them to the government. He stressed that it was just an advisory and consultative board, and has nothing to do with the Prime Minister's Office.
FM Gul stated that such reports could be prepared under certain methods and rules.
Noting that ''a report named minority report was currently discussed by the public opinion'', Gul said, ''we haven't charged anybody to prepare such a report.''
(BRC-ULG) 22.10.2004