Kurdish set for Turkish airwaves

The Turkish state broadcasting company, Turkish Radio and Television, says it will begin broadcasting programmes in the Kurdish language next week.

Turkey passed legislation two years ago clearing the way for broadcasts in Kurdish as part of a reform package.

Until now, however, no major TV or radio channel had begun any.

The European Union has repeatedly called on Turkey to allow broadcasting and teaching in Kurdish if it wishes to begin negotiations for membership.

TRT's director-general told a news conference that it would start broadcasting in two Kurdish dialects from next Wednesday, although he did not mention the word "Kurdish" in his announcement.

The ban has meant that Turkey's 12 million Kurds have had to tune in to satellite TV stations if they want to see programmes in their mother tongue.

The European Commission highlighted the issue in its annual report on Turkey last year.