Ankara - Turkish Daily News
Nov 19, 2000

During a three-hour stay in Turkey Friday, Sweden's foreign minister urged the
Turkish government to permit television broadcasts in the Kurdish language, a
measure that could help Turkey's effort to join the European Union.

Last week, the EU released its roadmap for Turkish membership, listing a series of
measures Turkey needs to take before it can join the 15-member group. The
measures include relaxing restrictions on Kurds.

Anna Lindh, who is visiting EU applicant countries, told reporters before leaving the
Turkish capital that Turkish officials must understand the EU's insistence on
"broadcasts in different languages." Sweden takes over the rotating chairmanship of
the EU when France gives up the post at the end of this year.

Speaking and publishing in Kurdish was made legal in 1991, but broadcasts are still
banned. It is also forbidden to teach Kurdish in schools.

The debate over Kurdish language broadcasts has divided Turkey's coalition
government.

Lindh said she wanted to cooperate with Turkey to advance its membership during
Sweden's EU chairmanship.

Turkey has long aspired to join the European Union, seeing membership as an
endorsement of the country's decades-long drive to modernize and draw closer to
the West.
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The Kurdistan Observer
www.kurdistanobserver.com

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