Doc. 7998

28 January 1998

Delegalisation of the Welfare Party in Turkey

Written Declaration No. 268

This written declaration commits only the members who have signed it

      The undersigned, members of the Assembly,

Declare that freedom of activity of political parties and civil associations as a basic part of political freedom is a fundamental principle of democracy, protected by international law and by the rules of the Council of Europe as well ;

      Express their anxiety about the delegalisation of one of the parliamentary powers of Turkey - the Welfare Party - and consider it to be a case of restriction of political freedoms by court decision which is inconsistent with the Council of Europe’s standard.

Signed: ¹

Libicki, Poland, EPP/CD

Eltz, Croatia, EPP/CD

Slomka, Poland, LDR

Slobodnik, Slovakia, EDG

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Total = 4

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       EPP/CD : Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG : European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers Group