DEMARCHE ON OSCE CONFERENCE ON RACISM, XENOPHOBIA

UNCLAS ANKARA 004926 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM TU SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON OSCE CONFERENCE ON RACISM, XENOPHOBIA AND DISCRIMINATION REF: STATE 176189 ¶1. (U) Embassy Ankara delivered on August 24 reftel's requested demarche on the September 13-14 OSCE Conference on Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination to MFA Human Rights Department Head Ali Savut. ¶2. (U) Savut responded that while the GOT concurs the topics planned for the OSCE Brussels September meeting are important, Turkey is more concerned about the treatment accorded to Turkish migrant workers living in Germany and Europe, in general. ¶3. (U) Savut confirmed he will accompany Ambassador Omur Orhun and the Prime Ministry's Human Rights Department Head Vahit Bicak to the meeting. Discussing the GOT's interest in the topics, Savut reviewed with us a proposal that he believes came from the British mission in Vienna to the OSCE regarding the "non-identification of terrorism from a specific religion." Savut claimed the Canadian delegation is in agreement in rejecting links identifying terrorism and extremism with any "religion, culture, ethnic group, nationality or race." Savut added that after a delay, the U.S. delegation also approved the proposal not to identify terrorism with any one religion. ¶4. (U) Turkey currently has anti-discrimination laws to address problems of anti-Semitism, but no laws against hate crimes. Savut asserted that hate crimes are not a major issue in Turkey and added that the GOT is currently focused on revising its penal code to conform to EU standards. EDELMAN