Council Of Europe Pleased With Turkey's Ratification Of Protocol Of European Convention On Human Rights Envisaging Abolition Of Death Penalty

STRASBOURG - The Council of Europe is pleased with Turkey's formally confirming on Wednesday the Sixth Protocol of European Convention on Human Rights which foresees abolition of the death penalty in peacetime.
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly President Peter Schieder and Council of Europe Secretary General Walter Schwimmer made a press statement on Turkey's presenting documents on ratification of the Sixth Protocol.
The statement said that this step which was taken by Turkey had a political characteristic and stated that the Turkish parliament's ratification of the protocol which foresaw abolition of death penalty was a historical decision.
It noted that abolition of death penalty and other reforms which Turkey fulfilled would increase the chance for Turkey's full membership to the EU.
(EÖ-AÖ) 14.11.2003