Armenian, Assyrian and Hellenic Genocide News

International Condemnations
by ABC News-00-12-22
Posted: Saturday, December 23, 2000 10:58 am CST

International condemnation of the raids has been swift and strong. In Brussels today, an EU spokesman expressed concern over the incident, recalling that the Turkish government’s bid for eventual EU membership depends on improving its human rights record and democratic institutions.

“We are worried,” EU spokesman Jean-Christophe Fiori said. “We call upon all parties to stop the violence in order to reach a peaceful outcome.”

The Greek government joined the European Commission in Brussels today in urgent calls upon Turkey to curb violence and human rights violations in its crackdown.

Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis said the storming of prisons “shows a violent stance against those who cannot defend themselves. Human rights were not observed.”

Rallies supporting what was being called by some Greek media an “uprising” erupted in demonstrations near Turkish missions in Athens and the northern port of Thessaloniki.

New York-based Human Rights Watch also condemned the assault.

“These deaths were entirely avoidable,” Jonathan Sugden, Turkey researcher for Human Rights Watch, said in a statement released in New York.

Turkey has pledged to reform its judicial system, including abolishing numerous freedom-curbing laws, in its effort to join the European Union.

The government is also trying to empty Turkey’s overcrowded prisons by passing an amnesty law that would release half of the country’s 72,000 prisoners.

ABCNEWS.com’s John Cooley in Athens, ABCNEWS’ Andrew Morse and Claudine Weinbrenn in London, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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