The comments from the deputy minister president Mesut Yilmaz on the possibility of the state radio and TV broadcaster (TRT) broadcasting in Kurdish has led to a "wild" debate between the coalition partners. Yilmaz said in an interview that TRT could broadcast programmes in Kurdish thereby fulfilling requirements in the EU-partnership document.

While Ecevit Yilmaz’s statement was not commented upon, there were harsh reactions from Enis Öksüz the Transport Minister from the MHP party. Öksüz said that Turkey was being forced, unlike other European states and the USA, to create a new state from various ethnic groups. He indicated that such moves meant potential problems for the "Turkish ship" and could lead to its sinking. "Efforts have been made to create a Turkey to please the heathens. Have we gone mad? Have we lost all sense? We have to become wealthy, distribute equally and move forward with national unity as the ideal."

The "Party of the Right Way" (DYP) have also rejected broadcasting in Kurdish. General secretary of the party Mehmet Ali Yavuz said "We wish to enter the EU in an honourable way. We cannot accept demands which discredit our honour. Therefore, we are not enthusiastic about the idea of broadcasting in Kurdish. It would be troublesome for the TRT to broadcast in Kurdish."

On Yilmz’s comments, the Supreme Council for Radio and TV (RTÜK), the highest censorship authority, have indicated that existing laws prevent Yilmaz’s proposed practices. As long as the laws remained unamended, then no authorization could be given for Kurdish broadcasting. RTÜK president Nuri Kayis stated that programmes in foreign languages are permitted to be broadcast for educational purposes, but this law does not apply for Kurdish.

While the 1991 language ban has been eased in respect of speaking and publishing, it is still prohibited to broadcast or teach in Kurdish.

(Source: Cumhuriyet, 12.11.00; Turkish Daily News, 13.11.00)