ANKARA (Hurriyet)–Rene Van der Linden, head of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, yesterday met with Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan, Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Commission head Murat Mercan and European Union Harmonization Commission head Yasar Yakis. During his talks, Linden asked Parliament to speed up its work on changing controversial Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code.
He also criticized state prosecutors seeking the closure of the Turkish Democratic Society Party (DTP), calling political parties an important element of democracy. Linden was also received by President Abdullah Gul.
