TURKISH PARLIAMENT PASSES LAW TO INCREASE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001091 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2018 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL OSCE TU SUBJECT: TURKISH PARLIAMENT PASSES LAW TO INCREASE KURDISH-LANGUAGE BROADCASTING REF: ANKARA 59 Classified By: Political Counselor Janice G. Weiner, reasons 1.4 (b),(d ) ¶1. (C) Summary. Turkey's Parliament passed a law June 11 with a provision that allows state-owned Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) to devote one of its 24-hour television channels to foreign-language broadcasting -- specifically, Kurdish, Arabic, and Persian. The bill will be sent to President Gul, who is expected to sign it into law. The measure, tacked onto a larger TRT reform bill, was proposed as part of the government's strategy to introduce cultural liberalization reforms in Turkey's Southeast in tandem with military efforts to combat the terrorist PKK. In addition to expected support from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP),both the main opposition Republican Peoples' Party (CHP) and the Turkish military recently voiced support for Kurdish-language broadcasting, demonstrating a growing consensus among Turkey's main stakeholders for the need for state-run Kurdish language broadcasting. Through opposition or skepticism is likely to continue from the far-right Nationalist Action Party (MHP) and Kurdish politicians, the new legal provision marks an historic achievement in overcoming institutionalized "Kurdo-phobia." End Summary. GOT Kurdish Language Broadcasting: A Long Time Coming -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The new legal provision to allow expanded state-run Kurdish-language broadcasting is the result of years of debate over allowing Kurdish language broadcasts. In 2003, amid EU pressure to implement measures to improve Kurdish cultural rights, the GOT (through TRT) began to air weekly 30-minute programs in Kurdish and other languages. Turkish Kurds dismissed the programming as dull and an effort to appease the EU. Most Kurds in southeastern Turkey receive multiple Kurdish-language TV stations via satellite from Iraq and Europe, including Danish-based, and allegedly PKK-affiliated, Roj-TV. In addition, private channels in Turkey are permitted to air 45 minutes of Kurdish programming per day, but required subtitles in Turkish increase production costs and prevent the airing of news broadcasts. Most politicians with whom we have spoken over the years admit Turkey has missed the Kurdish language broadcasting boat -- this sort of reform should have been adopted years ago. But despite pressure from the EU, USG and other Western governments, until recently there was official public resistance to further liberalization, likely due to concerns of the military and other conservative elements that further Kurdish broadcasting would fuel separatist sentiments in the Southeast. ¶3. (SBU) In February, Erdogan announced his intent to expand Kurdish-language reforms as part of an overall package to improve economic and social conditions in the Southeast to undermine support for the PKK. The provision to expand the Kurdish-language broadcasts was inserted into a larger bill focusing on restructuring state-run TRT. According to TRT Director General Ibrahim Sahin, parliament tacked on the Kurdish-language provision to the TRT-drafted bill even though it wasn't technically necessary. Sahin believed the provision may have been inserted in the bill to provide political cover in the face of fierce opposition from nationalist politicians who claimed launching such a station was otherwise illegal. A Significant Expansion in the Works -------------- ¶4. (C) Though Sahin was vague about the timing, he expects the broadcasts will include programming in Kurdish, Farsi and Arabic languages. TRT plans initially to broadcast 12 hours in Kurdish, 6 hours in Farsi, and 6 hours in Arabic; if successful, TRT could expand to 24-hour Kurdish-language broadcasts. Acknowledging that broadcasts would need to appeal to a wide range of views to be successful, Sahin said programming will include children's shows, movies dubbed into Kurdish, documentaries, music, sports, and educational lectures by prominent academics. Broadcasts may also include basic Turkish language programs aimed at increasing literacy, particularly among women, of non-Turkish speakers. These ANKARA 00001091 002 OF 002 women are the prime target, Sahin said, since they both raise the next generation and lack education themselves. Turkish media reports TRT has hired a coordinator for the proposed channel. Growing Consensus for Kurdish-Language Broadcasting -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) In addition to AKP support, both the main opposition CHP and the military have indicated supported of Kurdish language broadcasting. CHP leader Deniz Baykal, on a recent trip to the Southeast, expressed support for cultural reforms and regional development projects, noting, "Everyone should be proud of their ethnic identity, speak his or her mother language, learn in that language and publish in that language. We are all part of this nation." TGS Land Forces Commander GEN Ilker Basbug surprised many June 5 by remarking that TRT Kurdish broadcasts would be useful if they could undermine the influence of other Kurdish-language channels, such as Roj TV. Expected Opposition Persists -------------- ¶6. (C) Far-right MHP strongly criticized the law, with MHP leader Devlet Baceli calling the bill a gesture by the government to the PKK that would bring political division. MHP Deputy Chairman Oktay Vural claimed the measure violates the constitution. Non-AKP Kurdish politicians have continued to voice skepticism. Serafettin Elci, a leader from the pro-Kurdish Participatory Democracy Party (KADEP),told us the proposed reforms are "totally a show;" if the GOT were sincere, it would have permitted unrestricted Kurdish broadcasts rather than permitting only one channel. Democratic Society Party (DTP) Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir told us that AKP reforms are politically motivated and part of an effort to eliminate the DTP. Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) The new legal measure is an historic achievement and represents a major shift in institutional thinking on Kurdish-language broadcasting. Though several hurdles remain before broadcasts can begin, including securing funding and developing competitive programming, as academic Hisyar Ozsoy noted, even if the Kurdish-language broadcasts do not gain traction among Turkey's Kurds, the legislation demonstrates the GOT and public are overcoming "institutionalized Kurdo-phobia." While we expect debate to continue over the wisdom of Kurdish-language reforms, the recent statements by AKP, CHP, and TGS evince a mounting consensus on the need for state-run Kurdish-language broadcasting as a long-delayed tool to tackle Turkey's Kurdish problem. End Comment. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey WILSON