Quote:
Originally Posted by 604flames
This has been brewing for a LONG time..
When I was in Turkey in 2004 it was a relatively peaceful time in the conflict that, as others have mentioned as well, has been an ongoing one. In fact, the PM (whose first name the article tidbit conveniently omitted), and his gov't passed regulations allowing Kurdish radio and (I think?) TV stations to finally be broadcast. However, everyone I spoke to said it would be ridiculous to try to travel in the southeast (specifically Hakkari and environs), just in case something happened.
I empathise with the Kurds in their desire to have an international voice (as in a true homeland), but on the other hand, the PKK's (alleged) bombings of tourist sites in the West in recent years (the worst arguably being the 1993 incident in Fethiye) is utterly inexcusable.
That said, Turkish diplomacy is pretty rigid to say the least (see N. Cyprus and Armenian examples in addition to this one). Pretty ironic coming from a country whose founder stressed "peace at home, peace in the world."
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I had a friend in turkey in '97 and he describe the exact same situation. It always amazes me that groups that could be gaining international sympathy shoot themselves in the foot by attacking civilians.