unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (08/28/89)
guarantee of human rights was the restoration of democratic processes and
values. These were values dear to people in India as they were in Sri Lanka.
Unfortunately, India's attempts to coax the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE) on to a democratic path had proved futile. All those who were
genuinely concerned about the human rights of the Tamils in Sri Lanka should
be lending their efforts to persuade the LTTE to give up violence against
fellow Tamils and adopt the methods of peace and democracy. That was the only
sure way of guaranteeing the rights of Tamils. He pointed out that the Sri
Lankan Government had now accepted the view that these matters relating to
withdrawal of IPKF could only be resolved through mutual consultations. As a
result, the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka had visited New Delhi from 29 July
to 4 August. This was followed by a visit of the Adviser of the Sri Lankan
President to New Delhi from 15 August for further discussions. The process of
consultations was, therefore, continuing.
ONUR GORCE, observer for Turkey, pointed out that since May 1989, the
total number of Bulgarian citizens of Turkish origin who had been forced to
flee their homeland because of policies of oppression, had now surpassed a
quarter of a million and reached 300,000. This marked the largest forced
population movement Europe had witnessed since the Second World War. The
Bulgarian Government attempted to explain this phenomenon as the exercise of
the "right of freedom of travel". This explanation was certainly not less
serious than the event of forced exodus itself. His purpose was not to
discredit Bulgaria with which Turkey shared common borders and sought to have
good neighbourly relations. Its purpose was to demonstrate that a substantial
minority in their country could not be removed at a stroke of the hand. He
called on Bulgaria once again, to agree to restore the human and minority
rights of the Moslem ethnic Turks who chose to remain in Bulgaria and conclude
a comprehensive agreement to facilitate the smooth and orderly emigration of
those who wished to leave. Even in the Soviet Union and in some Eastern Block
countries, articles had been published regarding the tragic event.
ANTONIO COSTA LOBO, observer for Portugal, stated that the overall
situation in East Timor had deteriorated in the course of the last year. This
conclusion was based on documents and appeals coming from different
humanitarian organizations and illustrated by first-hand reports of Timorese
who had left the territory. The gravity of the situation in East Timor had
attained such dramatic proportions that some prestigious institutions and
personalities felt compelled to express openly their concern, and to urge the
adoption of appropriate measures. The Portuguese Government, while it
continued to co-operate with the competent organs of the United Nations in
relation to the protection of human rights in East Timor, simultaneously
pursued its efforts, in accordance with resolution 37/70 of the General
Assembly, to find a solution to the problem through conversations with
Indonesia under the auspices of the Secretary-General.
STANISLAV CHERNICHENKO, expert from the Soviet Union, clarified that the
mass media in the Soviet Union disseminated information which did not often
coincide with the official views of the Government.
LUDMILLA BOZHKOVA, observer for Bulgaria, stated that the Turkish
authorities were taking away the Bulgarian passports of the majority of
Bulgarian citizens entering Turkey. There had been reports that instead,
Bulgarian citizens were given Turkish documents, that they were being herded
into camps and treated as emigrants under a newly-adopted amendment to the
respective Turkish legislation. Those who refused to accept Turkish identity
documents were being sent back to Bulgaria. His delegation would like to
express its grave concern about the hysteric campaign of hatred waged in
Turkey against the entire Bulgarian nation which was declared as Enemy No. 1
for the Turkish nation. Offensive language not only vis-a-vis the Bulgarian
authorities but against the entire Bulgarian people, slogans for war against
Bulgaria and threats pronounced at the highest political level to invade
Bulgaria in order to repeat the example of Cyprus, were a daily routine in
Turkey. She reaffirmed the readiness of her country to solve bilaterally all
the existing issues between Bulgaria and Turkey on the basis of equality.
DE MONTIGNY MARCHAND, observer for Canada, noted that whatever the
intentions underlying Bulgaria's present approach to the problem, it was clear
that the sudden exodus of some 300,000 people had created a humanly
intolerable situation. Against this background, Canada urged strict
observance of the fundamental rights of all Bulgarian citizens of Turkish
origin and endorsed calls for discussions to be held between the concerned
parties. His delegation did not wish to enter into a polemic with the Chinese
delegation. Rather, its action reflected the high respect and affection that
Canada had long held for China and the closeness that had characterized their
relations. But for these considerations, and for China's great importance in
the international community, it might not have considered it necessary to take
issue with positions it had taken on fundamental principles underpinning the
purposes of the United Nations. That avenue -- of co-operation in advancing
* Origin: UNITEX --> Toward a United Species (1:107/501)
---
Patt Haring | UNITEX : United Nations
patth@sci.ccny.cuny.edu | Information
patth@ccnysci.BITNET | Transfer Exchange
-=- Every child smiles in the same language. -=-