Reuters news agency recently announced, quoting official Turkish sources, that the government of Turkey is about to launch a new radio station broadcasting in Armenian, a language spoken by 600,000 Armenians in Turkey. The measure is seen as a bid to improve the record of respect of human rights in the eyes of the EU, as well as restoring good diplomatic relations with Armenia, one of Turkey's main regional opponents.

The principal reason for discord between both countries is the killing of Armenians by Ottoman troops during First World War. Erevan, which counts with several international supports -including the US-, has branded the event as an "attempt of genocide". Ankara not only denies the accusation, but persecutes within itsboundaries those who hold so.

Some months ago, Turkey also sponsored the launching of a new TV channel in Kurdish, in a bid to win support among the Kurds for next elections on March 29, and neutralize the influence of Kurdish TV stations broadcasting from abroad, such as Roj TV.

Further information:

• Reuters: Turkey to launch Armenian-language radio station
• Nationalia: Turkish education ignores minoritised languages, cultures and religions, Minority Rights Group says