Whereas Washington has long urged reform on the Kurdish issue in Turkey, it has been indulgent of Turkey's reluctance to appear to make concessions to terrorism. Probably no issue creates more problems in U.S.-Turkish bilateral relations than does the Kurdish issue. For example, Turkey's efforts to buy U.S.-made attack helicopters have been stymied for years due to its perceived treatment of the Kurds. There are signs that Turkey, its self-confidence boosted by its success against the PKK, indeed may be easing some restrictions on use of the Kurdish language. Last month, Ankara approved establishment of an Iraqi Kurdish satellite television station beamed from northern Iraq, marking the first time Turkey has ever approved receipt of Kurdish-language broadcasts on its territory.
Reform is likely to be a slow process, however.
Within that framework, it is possible to envision a reform process that would include fewer restrictions on use of the Kurdish language and greater freedom of expression regarding Kurdish affairs. But it is impossible to envision autonomy, federation, or any other state structure that endows Kurds with a separate corporate or geographically-based status. If Kurds flaunt separatist feelings, any flickers of reform will probably be quickly snuffed out, as was the case in some instances in the early 1990s.