Strasbourg, 02/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - By adopting the report by the Hungarian Socialist Andras Barsony and from the German Christian Democrat Benny Zierer, the parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe calls on Turkey to continue and apply the reforms it has undertaken to answer the standards of the Council of Europe. While recognising the progress achieved by Turkey, the Assembly calls for efforts in terms of respect for human rights in the fight against terrorism and also with regards to the freedom of expression, detention and the eradication of torture and mistreatment. It also insisted for an abolition of the death penalty, which has not been applied since 1984 as well as the continuation of the constitutional revision. The Assembly underlines that, even if the recent decision by the Turkish Constitutional Court banning the Party of Virtue is in accordance with the legislation, this decision is contrary to the principals of a pluralist democracy. While noting that Turkey has drafted an ambitious national programme for the adoption of the Community acquis, it regrets that the aims are formulated in a "flexible manner" and that the deadlines for the implementation remains imprecise and wide. The Assembly decided to continue the follow-up procedure for the respect of the obligations and undertakings made by Turkey.