Turkey Approves Sixth Protocol Of European Convention On Human Rights Envisaging Abolition Of Death Sentence

STRASBOURG - Turkey on Wednesday officially approved the Sixth Protocol of European Convention on Human Rights envisaging abolition of death sentence in times of peace.
Turkey's Permanent Representative to Council of Europe (COE) Numan Hazar presented the documents showing that Turkey approved the protocol, to COE Secretary General Walter Schwimmer.
Hazar signed the protocol on behalf of Turkey on January 15, 2003. Parliament ratified the protocol in August.
Turkey's being the latest country in signing the 6th protocol, had been a problem between Ankara and Strasbourg for a long time.
Turkey, Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan are among the countries who have not signed 13th protocol of the European Convention on Human Rights envisaging abolishment of death sentence even in times of war.
Council of Europe, which attributes importance to Europe's being a region where there is no death sentence, also exerts intense efforts in United States and Japan, which have observer status, for abolishment of death sentence.
(AY) 12.11.2003