The Prime Minister of Turkey Bulent Ecevit, in the statement he made concerning the claims that the Syriac citizens, who left Turkey when the terrorist acts were widespread and settled in other countries, encountered some difficulties when they wanted to return, said that "our Syriac citizens' making free use of all the constitutional, legal and democratic rights is under the guarantee of our state".

Ecevit stated, "It is claimed that Syriac citizens are not allowed to return to their villages, use their rights on their real estate, visit their relatives or receive religious education and some obstacles are set for the foreigners to visit Syriac people and the abovementioned villages" and

"Although these claims are not true, it is ensured that the relevant institutions pay due attention given the fact that some wrong applications might exist. Our Syriac citizens' making free use of all the constitutional, legal  and democratic rights is under the guarantee of our state. Our dear citizens who have settled in other countries for various reasons  can return to our country and their villages without encountering any difficulties or obstacles."

Prime Minister Ecevit issued a circular concerning the subject.

In the circular, it is stated that "for the citizens of various origins who were in the provinces falling in the area of responsibility of the Governorship of Emergency including the neighboring provinces and who left the villages they had been living and took refuge or settled in the in the European countries, the necessary work for giving permission to return to their villages if they wish  would be conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs".

In the circular it is also required that "the relevant public institutions and establishments should pay due attention and sensitiveness for the Syriac people to make free use of their constitutional, legal and democratic rights, which are under the guarantee of our state"

(Press, 13.06.2001).