Michael Ring
Ceist:44 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the use of the death penalty in Turkey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9998/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 31 March 2004
Ceisteanna (64)
Freagraí scríofa
The death penalty has not been carried out in Turkey since 1984.
Over the past two years Turkey has enacted a wide range of legislative reforms as part of its efforts to fulfil the Copenhagen political criteria for EU candidate countries. The third major package of legislation was enacted on 9 August 2002. It provided for the abolition of the death penalty except in times of war, the imminent threat of war and for crimes of terrorism. The sixth package, which entered into force on 19 July 2003, removed the exemption for crimes of terrorism.
Protocol No. 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights deals with the abolition of the death penalty in times of peace. It was enacted in Turkey on 1 December 2003 following completion of the ratification procedures. On 9 January 2004 Turkey signed Protocol No. 13 of the European Convention on Human Rights that prohibits the death penalty in all circumstances, including times of war.
The EU is opposed to the death penalty in all cases and aims at its universal abolition. The Government warmly welcomes the decision of Turkey to abolish it in all circumstances. This represents a significant step towards full respect for European human rights standards.