Council of Europe head to visit Turkey

PARIS - Anadolu Agency

The chief of the Council of Europe arrive in Turkey on Aug. 3 for meetings with officials and opposition leaders, the council said on July 31.      

Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland's comes after Turkey suspended the European Convention on Human Rights, which is reinforced by the council's European Court of Human Rights, following the July 15 coup attempt.       

Jagland is due to meet President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ as well as party leaders, the council said in a statement.      

The suspension of the convention came a day after Turkey declared a state of emergency on July 20. Article 15 allows states to suspend certain rights guaranteed by the convention during a public emergency threatening the nation.