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URC – TURKEY
The Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC) is calling on Turkey to take the necessary steps to accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Increased ratifications of the Statute will further strengthen the global voice at the Court and result in a more robust and meaningful participation in the global struggle to establish a truly fair, effective and independent ICC.

To date, 41 states in Europe and the Central Asian Republics are parties to the Rome Statute, 27 of which are European Union (EU) members. The region also includes seven signatories to the Rome Statute (Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, the Kingdom of Monaco, the Republic of Moldova, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Uzbekistan).

European states and the European Union have been frontrunners in the establishment of the ICC and their constant efforts will continue to be critical to ensure the ICC will remain a fair and effective Court. The Coalition therefore appeals to Turkey to ratify the Rome Statute and to fully support this first permanent, independent court capable of investigating and bringing to justice perpetrators of the most serious violations of international law, namely war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.


Take Action Now!

Write a letter to the Prime Minister of Turkey to encourage him to accede to the Rome Statute of the ICC.

You might like to use the following letter as a guide. Please be sure to cc all contacts below when sending your letters.

Send your letter to:


H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğa
Prime Minister
Basbakanlik Merkez Bina
06640 Kizilay ANKARA-TURKEY
Phone: +90 312 413 70 00
Fax: +90 312 417 04 76
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

H.E. Abdullah Gül
President
Cumhurbaskanligi Cankaya Kosku,
06550 Cankaya ANKARA-TURKEY
Phone: +90 312 470 11 00/4702308
Fax: +90 312 470 13 16
Email: [email protected]

H.E. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Davutoğlu
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Dr. Sadık Ahmet Cad. No: 8 Balgat 06100 ANKARA-TURKEY
Phone: +90 312 292 10 00
Fax: +90 312 292 27 55
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

H.E. Sadullah Ergin
Minister of Justice
Adalet Bakanligi 06659 Kizilay ANKARA-TURKEY
Phone: +90 312 419 33 70
Fax: +90 312 419 33 70
+90 312 417 71 13
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

H.E. Ertuğrul Apakan
Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN
Permanent Mission of Turkey to the United Nations
821 United Nations Plaza, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10017 USA
Phone: (212) 949-0150
Fax: (212) 949-0086
Email: [email protected]




Your Excellency:

I am writing to urge you to ensure Turkey’s accession to the Rome Statute of the ICC as soon as possible. The Court’s investigations in Uganda, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Darfur (Sudan), and Kenya signify that it is moving forward in its crucial work to end impunity for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Turkey’s support for this new and vital system of international justice by acceding to the Rome Statute is therefore of utmost importance.

As you well know, the Rome Statute came into force in July 2002 and now has the support of more than half of the world’s nations. With Saint Lucia’s and Seychelles’ recent ratifications this August, 113 countries have become States Parties to the Rome Statute, which has 139 country signatories. The system of international justice represented by the ICC is an important tool that will ensure that the most serious international crimes no longer go unpunished. European nations are instrumental in building and strengthening this new justice system, and their support to the ICC is vital to its success and efficiency.

I welcome the Prime Minister’s statement before the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in October 2004 indicating that “Turkey will soon approve the Rome Statute after completing its internal preparations and will become part of the International Court Convention.” Turkey has also made a positive step forward by joining the Friends of the ICC, a like-minded group of countries actively promoting the International Criminal Court and the new international criminal legal system arising from the Rome Statute’s entry into force.
I would also like to welcome Turkey’s August 2008 approval of the Third National Program for the Adoption of the EU Acquis, a document that includes – among others – a reference to the ICC and the fact that the necessary work is continuing for Turkey to become a party to the Court.

However, for two years, Turkey’s progress has remained at a standstill. I therefore urge the Turkish government to act upon its commitments by acceding to the Rome Statute without delay.. With the added benefit of Turkey’s strategic geographic position bridging Europe and the Middle East, Turkey could be a key international player that could significantly contribute to strengthening the new system of international justice created by the Rome Statute.

Excellency, I encourage you and your government to submit a bill of accession to Parliament without delay and fully align Turkish legislation with all the provisions under the Rome Statute in order to become an important part of this much-needed international justice system.

Sincerely,