US embassy cable - 05ANKARA5351

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 005351 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PHUM, TU, OSCE 
SUBJECT: GOT DENIES IT PLANS TO CLOSE HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE 
 
REF: ANKARA 5163 
 
Classified by Polcouns Janice G. Weiner; reasons 1.4 b and d. 
 
1. (U) The Prime Ministry issued a written statement 
September 8 denying press reports indicating that the GOT had 
decided against the creation of an independent human rights 
institution and was considering closing the existing Human 
Rights Presidency (reftel).  According to the statement, the 
GOT is working to make the Human Rights Presidency "more 
independent, functional and more harmonious with the 
principles of the United Nations." 
 
2. (C) The Danish Embassy and the Danish Institute for Human 
Rights had been working with the GOT on a project aimed at 
creating an independent human rights institution in Turkey 
similar to the Danish Institute.  Vahit Bicak, head of the 
Human Rights Presidency, told us and the Danish DCM September 
1 that he decided to leave his post after PM Erdogan told him 
he did not support the establishment of an independent 
institution (reftel).  Sema Kilicer, political officer at the 
European Commission Representation to Turkey, told us she 
raised the issue with GOT officials on September 7, warning 
that the closure of the Human Rights Presidency would be 
noted in the next EU progress report on Turkey. 
 
3. (C) Following the September 8 Prime Ministry announcement, 
the Danish DCM told us he was encouraged by the GOT's 
apparent change of heart.  However, he said it was not clear 
what the GOT's intentions are.  There has been no progress in 
recent months in the discussions between Denmark and the GOT 
on the independent institution.  If in fact the GOT intends 
to establish a new human rights institution, he said, the 
independence and effectiveness of the new agency will likely 
depend on how closely it conforms to UN principles relating 
to national human rights institutions (known as the "Paris 
Principles"). 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
4. (C) The GOT has neglected the Human Rights Presidency 
since creating the office in 1997.  It appears that GOT 
leaders may now have factored into their decision-making 
process the potential impact of criticism from the EU and the 
human rights community.  We will follow developments to 
determine whether the GOT genuinely intends to turn the 
office into an independent institution. 
 
 
MCELDOWNEY