Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Turkish Premier's Remarks Stir Debate - Los Angeles Times

"Turkish Premier's Remarks Stir Debate
By SELCAN HACAOGLU, Associated Press Writer

ANKARA, Turkey -- When Turkey's prime minister recently recognized that not all Turks are alike, the restive Kurdish population rejoiced.

Finally they could call themselves a distinct ethnic group -- providing they acknowledged being first and foremost citizens of Turkey.

But many non-Kurds were alarmed, saying the prime minister's remarks amount to a redefinition of Turkish identity that could threaten the nation's survival."

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