The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) began discussing a report on "the functioning of democratic institutions in Turkey" prepared by MEP Luc Van den Brande (Belgian).

Executives from the five political groups made speeches hoping that the Constitutional Court of Turkey would make a decision in compliance with values and standards of the Council of Europe in the (closure) case of Turkey's ruling Justice & Development (AK) Party.

Brande said the report should not be regarded as an intervention into the verdict of the Constitutional Court.

PACE's discussing this report aimed to give clear messages to Turkey and other countries, Brande stated.

Brande said a political party must be banned, if it advocated the use of violence.

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