2 Hours Break For Turkish In TRT Per Week

This is the common view of Orhan Erinc, the head of the Turkish Journalists' Community (TGC), communications law expert Fikret Ilkiz, and Sezai Babakus, the speaker of the Circassian Platform, on the regulations about broadcasting in different languages and dialects.

Sami Tan, a director at the weekly Azadiya Welat, said, "We were shocked."

As a step towards meeting European Union (EU) membership requirements, Turkey's Radio and Television Higher Board (RTUK) announced that the state radio and television could air limited programs in "different languages and dialects."

Subtitles on television, Turkish recap of radio programs

The regulation requires that there are Turkish subtitles on television programs, and a Turkish recap of radio programs.

The television broadcasts in different regional languages and dialects may not exceed 30 minutes a day and a total of two hours a week. The radio broadcasts in different regional languages and dialects may not exceed 45 minutes per day and a total of four hours a week.

The television and radio broadcasts will start with RTUK and the state owned TRT signing an agreement. It is not yet clear in what regional languages the aired programs would be.

Bianet asked Orhan Erinc, the head of TGC, communications law expert Fikret Ilkiz, Sami Tan, a director at the Azadiya Welat, and Sezai Babakus, the speaker of the Circassian Platform, about what they think about the new regulation.

Erinc: Could be expanded in time

TGC head Orhan Erinc does not find the regulation sufficient but considers it to be a positive step.

"Once implemented, the regulation could be expanded in time," he said.

About the requirement of having Turkish subtitles Erinc said, "As far as I understand this, they are concerned that the use of regional languages and dialects may give rise to a crime."

Ilkiz: Learning different languages in Turkish

Jurist Fikret Ilkiz finds this development positive. According to Ilkiz, broadcasting in different languages will be beneficial for Turkish language.

About the Turkish subtitles and recaps, Ilkiz says, "I will be learning different languages and dialects in Turkish. This is beneficial at least for the Turks."

"It is important to determine the different languages and dialects in line with needs."

The issue of "broadcasting in native languages," is in Turkey's political program published in 2000. The Copenhagen Criteria require that "different regional languages and dialects," be under protection.

Tan: We were shocked instead of the EU

One of the directors at the weekly Kurdish newspaper Azadiya Welat, Sami Tan argues that this regulation is very backward.

"It is impossible for the Kurdish people to be happy with this regulation," he said.

"The broadcasts should not be limited to TRT. They should permit private television and radios to air Kurdish programs. And the requirement of subtitles and recaps demonstrate how little the state trusts its people. And their own staff..." Tan said.

Babakus: Positive but insufficient

Speaker of the Circassian Platform, Sezai Babakus believes the regulation is positive as a first step. Bur he agrees with Tan, that it also has many shortcomings.

"By authorizing only the state radio and television to air such programs, the state is creating a control mechanism. This is wrong. But it is good that TRT, with the widest reach in Turkey, will be airing these programs."

According to Babakus, "Turkish recaps," are both good and bad: It is technically difficult. It means that a program will be aired twice. But this will be good for those who listen to the program and wonder what is being said. We also want to be understood."(HA/NK/EA/NM)