Turkish President Mr Ahmet Necdet Sezer has approved laws expanding civil liberties that aim to strengthen Turkey's struggling bid for EU membership.
|
|
|
Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Photograph: Reuters
|
The nine-article package, passed by parliament last month, incorporates into law some of the constitutional amendments adopted in October to improve the country's much criticised human rights record.
The amendments open the way for the Kurdish minority to publish material in their mother tongue, set tougher criteria for banning political parties, relax conditions for establishing civic associations and facilitate the organisation of public demonstrations.
Another notable change, which aims to combat torture, stipulates that any compensation Turkey is ordered to pay by the European Court of Human Rights for "torture, inhumane and cruel treatment" is to be paid by the person responsible.
An EU membership candidate since 1999, Turkey is the only country among the 13 hopefuls that has not yet fulfilled the union's political criteria in order to be able to open accession talks.
The Ankara government has failed to reach an agreement on a key EU norm - the abolition of the death penalty for all crimes - and has so far been reluctant to take steps to legalise broadcasts and education in Kurdish.
Turkey wants to have the date for the start of its accession talks set by the end of the year, but EU officials have not made clear statements on the demand.
AFP