ANKARA (AA) - Walter Kalin, United Nations (UN) Secretary General Kofi Annan's Representative for the human rights of internally displaced persons, said, ''the new planned strategies of the Turkish government have opened a new door of hope for displaced people.''
Kalin, who arrived in Turkey on Wednesday (May 4th) upon the invitation of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, met officials of the MFA; Justice Ministry, Ministry of the Interior, Undersecretariat of State Planning Organization (DPT), and Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Regional Development Administration, during his stay in Turkey.
Briefing the reporters on the talks he had with Turkish officials, Kalin said that he get information from Turkish executives about the return of displaced villagers of the southeast Anatolia, to their homes; and the law which foresees the state to compensate the losses caused because of terrorism and fight against terrorism.
Kalin noted that he was impressed by the approaches of Turkish officials towards matters regarding the displaced people and the efforts to solve problems.
Stating that he proposed Turkish officials to extend the deadline given to citizens to apply for compensation, Kalin also expressed his concern over the high rate of people whose applications were not accepted.
(BRC-ULG)
2005-05-06