1 July 1993

Doc.  6890

WRITTEN DECLARATION No. 229

on racism, xenophobia and related intolerance

      The undersigned, members of the Assembly,

1.       Concerned that, despite all efforts, new forms of racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and related intolerance persists in our democratic societies;

2.       Shocked at the arson attack on a Turkish family in Solingen on 29 May 1993 which resulted in the deaths of five people, three of them children, and the other following similar racial attacks in Germany;

3.       Share the grief of the victims of such attacks, their families and their friends;

4.       Noting with satisfaction the shock and the unequivocal condemnation of these attacks by the European public opinion;

5.       Further noting with satisfaction the statement made by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe following the attack in Solingen, expressing the determination of the Council of Europe to combat racism and intolerance by concrete measures which would include a plan of action;

6.       Welcome the reaction of the vast majority of the Germany people, who have condemned these violent attacks, and the efforts of the German authorities to prevent such attacks and to bring the perpetrators to justice;

7.       Convinced that integration of migrant workers to German society should be given priority;

8.       Believe that relaxation in rules governing citizenship, the introduction of dual nationality and the right to vote in local elections will lead to immediate improvements in the situation,

9.       Call on the German authorities and the Summit of the Heads of State and Government to be held in Vienna to recognise that the present rise in racist attacks is not due to individual actions by deranged persons, but represents a serious organised threat to democratic societies, and to adopt concrete measures to strengthen existing efforts to combat racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and related intolerance.

Signed:       Demiralp       Gunnarsson

      Dincerler       Hagard

      Kiratlioǧlu       Haglund

      Fleetwood       Karakas

      Gül       Cem

      Gundersen       Soysal

      Güner       Talay

      __________

      Total = 14