On Tuesday, 27 January 2015, the WCA met with Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Bülent Arınç, at the United Nations Office in Geneva immediately after the Universal Periodic Review of Turkey by the UN Member States, which takes place every four years. On behalf of the six-headed WCA Delegation, Mr. Johny Messo (WCA President) and Mr. Melki Toprak (Chairman Federation of Arameans in Switzerland) presented this important document to him and his high-level delegation.
Click here to download the recommendations in PDF
What do the Aramean (Syriac) People of Turkey want?
Turkey Universal Periodic Review 2014
United Nations Office in Geneva
27 January 2015
On behalf of the Aramean people, the World Council of Arameans (Syriacs) (“WCA”) welcomes the distinguished Delegation of Turkey to the United Nations Office in Geneva. As the indigenous people of Southeast Turkey, we first and foremost request Turkey to renew its Constitution and develop a comprehensive and all‐inclusive policy on minorities in compliance with international treaties, conventions and standards. We also would like to bring to Turkey’s immediate attention the following problems, recommendations and opportunities.
RECOMMENDATIONS: WE ASK TURKEY TO
GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS OR OPPORTUNITIES
The WCA has five additional recommendations for Turkey which, if implemented, will improve the situation in our homeland and the dialogue between the Turkish Government and the Aramean people. There are indeed many opportunities which we should jointly pursue and work on together.
We have excluded from this online document our five unique ideas and proposals,
which we plan to implement and realize in 2015-2016.
If the Turkish Government has the political will to actually and constructively work with the Arameans in order to turn ongoing problems into solutions and opportunities, the WCA is assured that we will improve the situation of the Aramean people and secure a bright future for them in their homeland. It boils down to Turkey’s willingness to recognize and appreciate our existence, in addition to equal rights that are constitutionally guaranteed and implemented.
Turkey receives recommendations concerning its native Aramean people from the World Council of Arameans (Syriacs)
f.l.t.r. Mr. Johny Messo, President World Council of Arameans (Syriacs), Mr. Bülent Arınç, Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey,
Mr. Melki Toprak, Chairman of the federation of Arameans in Switzerland.