VZCZCXYZ0009
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHC #8745 3502229
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 162228Z DEC 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE IMMEDIATE 6526
INFO RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 1240
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 3542
UNCLAS STATE 128745
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL KDEM OSCE TU
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON THE CLOSURE
OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY PARTY IN TURKEY
Madam Chair,
The United States wishes to make the following points
regarding the decision by the Constitutional Court of Turkey
to close the Democratic Society Party and the violence that
has occurred in its aftermath.
We believe that Turkey's democratic system should continue to
advance political freedoms for all its citizens. Measures
that limit or restrain these freedoms should be exercised
with extreme caution.
We encourage the Government of Turkey to continue its
commendable efforts to ensure that all Turkish citizens fully
exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. We
encourage all political actors in Turkey to pursue
reconciliation, reflect democratic values, and refrain from
the use or encouragement of violence.
Thank you Madam Chair.
END TEXT
CLINTON