The Turkish Prime Minister has said he hopes to convince his government coalition partners to do away with the death penalty, a key requirement if Turkey is to join the EU.
Speaking in an interview with a Turkish newspaper, Bulent Ecevit said "If Turkey doesn't abolish it by the end of the year we will have missed a key opportunity."
Ecevit said the death penalty question would be on the agenda at a meeting of the government's coalition parties next week.
Turkey has had a moritorium on judicial killings since 1984, and in October amended the constitution to outlaw executions except in wartime or for terrorism.
The European Union has insisted that Ankara completely bans the death penalty and also allows schools to teach in the Kurdish language.
Turkey's EU candidacy was conditionally accepted in December 1999 but advancement depends on overall progress shown on human rights and democracy issues.
AFP