20/05/2003 (Agence Europe) - With Thursday's resolution by the EPP-ED, PES, ELDR, Greens-EFA, GUE/NGL and the UEN, Parliament declared that it was "shocked to learn that members of the anti-terrorist forces, accompanied by the State Security Court in Ankara, raided the premises of the Civil Rights Association on 6 May in Ankara and has requested the Turkish authorities to immediately explain the reasons for this action" (see EUROPE 15 May pa 15 on the declaration of Commissioner Verheugen on this subject). The EP has pointed out that the Turkish government intended to get rid of the State Security Courts, which constituted an obstacle to the development of the State of Law in Turkey. It also expressed its support for the activities and awareness campaigns amongst the public that had been implemented by the Civil rights Association and the other civil rights associations in Turkey. the EP acknowledges that "Turkey has amended "most of its legislation on freedom of expression and association but regrets that these amendments still leave the field free for repressive police action to a large extent."