Davutoglu warns of humanitarian tragedy

GENEVA

Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu addressed UN Human Rights Council on Monday in Geneva, Switzerland.

Speaking at the Alliance of Civilizations room, he drew attention to the 20th anniversary of the World Conference on Human Rights and said, "It is especially meaningful to be in Geneva at the Human Rights Council and in the presence of the High Commissioner on Human Rights at this session. At this session we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the World Conference on Human Rights that led to the establishment of the Office of the High Commissioner. The spirit and essence of the Vienna Conference guide us in our efforts to improve human rights all over the world. Both the Human Rights Council and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights have become essential and indivisible components of the struggle for human rights.
Davutoglu said, "We, the Governments of different countries, represent common conscience of humanity. Despite our political divergences, as far as human rights and humanitarian issues are concerned, our focus must be on our common values of humanity without discrimination. We should act with a "united humanitarian conscience" under the flag of the United Nations."
He added that the Council was dealing with various issues which were on the forefront of the global agenda including the tragedy in Syria, the intolerable developments in Palestine, the fight against racism and intolerance to migrants' rights and freedom of expression and added, "The work done here is of utmost value, formulating universal principles that constitute guidelines."
Davutoglu pointed out the ongoing tragedy in Syria and said, "As a complete disregard of the values we all share, a humanitarian tragedy is still going on in Syria before the eyes of the international community. Today, Syria has become a scene of appalling human rights violations."
He stressed the Syrian regime was shelling the cities indiscriminately, bombing urban areas, targeting hospitals as well as civilians waiting at the bakery queues.
He stated that the monthly average of documented death toll in Syria had increased to 5,000 which was recently stated by the High Commissioner.

-"As we speak, 200 more Syrians have died"

Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu expressed, "As we speak today, nearly 200 more people have died. We are not talking about mere statistics. Each number means a human life and yet another violation of right to life. The number of political prisoners as well as the plight of the persons who are exposed to inhuman treatment is unknown. To illustrate the actual horror on the ground, around 20 opposition members have been killed on a daily basis as a result of systematic torture. According to the last survey conducted by the Syrian Network for Human Rights, 1,215 people were reportedly killed because of systematic torture."

-"Turkey keeps supporting the Commission"-

He underscored that the works of Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria and said, "I believe the main case in point here is the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria. This Commission has been working tirelessly for the past year and a half to investigate the human rights violations in Syria in the most difficult conditions. Although it has not been allowed access to the country, the Commission brought to light important information on the situation in the country through its interviews with thousands of witnesses.
Davutoglu said that as Turkey, they had allowed wide access to the Commission in respect of fulfilling its mandate.
"Turkey will remain committed to supporting the Commission in order to deter violations of human rights and lay the foundation for future accountability. Perpetrators of human rights violations must know there will be no impunity," he stressed.

-Aid of Turkey-

Davutoglu underlined the "outrageous human rights violations in Syria" was leading to a major humanitarian tragedy and drew attentions to the displacement of three and a half million people.
Turkish minister said hundred of thousands of Syrians were taking shelter in neighboring countries and added, "Altogether, more than a quarter of the Syrian population are in dire need of humanitarian assistance within Syria and in the neighboring countries."
He highlighted that Turkey itself was doing its utmost to shoulder a large part of the humanitarian catastrophe and added that in 17 camps, there were more than 185,000 Syrians and more than 100,000 of them were living in different cities across Turkey.
Davutoglu mentioned that there were 2,490 babies were born in those camps and added, 26,315 students were receiving education by 1,224 teachers in 372 classrooms in camps.
Moreover, he stressed, 24,370 Syrians received technical training and 727,640 patients were treated. In addition, 17,670 patients are still in Turkish hospitals and 10,450 medical operations were realized.
Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu, "Those children could have been born or educated in their country, and in peace. But their basic rights have been violated."
He brought out the challenging responsibility of Turkey and said, Turkey had spend 600 million USD and said, "but no matter how difficult the challenge is, we will continue our open door policy and stand by our Syrian brothers and sisters."

-"Effective and real support"-
 
Davutoglu asked that for how long would the international community allow this humanitarian tragedy to continue and continued as saying, "How long we will continue to look the other way while the people of Syria suffer tremendously at the hands of a bloody regime? The regime has lost its legitimacy. It is no longer governing. It is surviving by oppression, terror and massacres. More importantly, the situation in Syria has evolved into a real threat to regional peace and security."
"The Syrian regime deploys every instrument to turn the legitimate struggle of the Syrian people into a sectarian war, which would engulf the entire region into flames," stressed Davutoglu.
Davutoglu came to providing support and solidarity in Syrian people's struggle for their future and touched onto the importance of the Human Rights Council in this matter and said, "First, international community should establish the proper environment for access to humanitarian assistance for all in Syria. The P5 may have different political views, but it is imperative for them to unite over the common humanitarian values. It is incomprehensible to hinder humanitarian access. The UN Security Council should adopt a resolution to ensure humanitarian access and introduce measures to those who prevent such access."
Lastly, he stressed, "We should join our efforts to bring an immediate end to crimes against the Syrian people perpetrated by the regime. We have to make sure that all perpetrators will not go unpunished."