Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 51122 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 03ISTANBUL1627, KURDISH LANGUAGE NUDGES INTO PRIME TIME

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #03ISTANBUL1627.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
03ISTANBUL1627 2003-11-04 08:48 2011-08-24 01:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Consulate Istanbul
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ISTANBUL 001627 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM TU
SUBJECT: KURDISH LANGUAGE NUDGES INTO PRIME TIME 
 
1. (SBU) Summary: In a small sign that Turkey's EU reforms 
are beginning to have some impact, Kurdish singer Ciwan Haco 
performed on a popular prime time television show on October 
25.  The show's host, Hulya Avsar, herself half-Kurdish, took 
pains to strike a balance between Turkish patriotism and 
Kurdish cultural expression.  Despite initial hesitation by 
the television station, Haco interviewed only in Kurmanji 
(the most widely spoken Kurdish language in Turkey), using a 
translator.  While no major milestone in linguistic freedom, 
the 15-minute performance and interview suggests there may be 
greater room to maneuver on "mother tongue" issues in the 
future.  End Summary. 
 
 
Hulya and the Show 
------------------ 
 
 
2. (U) Actress/singer Hulya Avsar's eponymous show featured a 
rarity in Turkish broadcasting on October 25: Kurdish singing 
and discussion.  Avsar, a native of Edremit, is the daughter 
of a Kurdish father and Turkish mother.  Her highly-rated 
show, sponsored by British retailers Marks & Spencer, is 
popular with youth of both sexes, and some middle-aged Turks. 
 The show airs on Saturday evenings at 11pm on a major 
Istanbul-based station, Kanal D. 
 
 
3. (SBU) Kanal D producers sought to soften the impact of 
inviting a Kurdish pop star to perform on the show.  Poloff 
learned from Haco's translator, who also appeared on the 
show, that the program executives initially asked Haco to 
talk with Avsar in English.  Haco (a Syrian-born Kurd who 
lives in Norway and speaks fluent English) refused, saying 
that he was a Kurd and wished to perform and speak in 
Kurmanji.  Poloff contacts opined that Haco's status as a 
citizen of another country may have made it easier to get 
Kurmanji past nervous television executives. 
 
 
Elderly Counter-balance 
----------------------- 
 
 
4. (U) Ultimately, Haco's wishes prevailed, but his 
appearance was preceded by a short interview with a 
105-year-old Turkish veteran of the Turkish War of 
Independence.  The feisty vet (who brought his bayonet with 
him and discussed the three Greeks he killed with it) talked 
of letting Ataturk drink water from his hands, and was a 
clear counterweight to Haco's Kurmanji performance. 
 
 
5. (U) Following the elderly veteran, Haco was introduced and 
began by conversing with Avsar in Kurmanji.  Avsar, after 
somewhat nervously saying that she was in fact partially 
Kurdish, spoke little herself, but recognized and used 
several basic phrases.  (Note: Older Turks with whom poloff 
spoke said this was not the first time Hulya had taken some 
risks professionally.  Avsar once publicly defended Ibrahim 
Tatlises, an icon of Turkish arabesk music who at one time 
was banned by the government.  End note.)  Two Kurmanji songs 
by Haco followed the interview. 
 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
 
6. (SBU) To date, post is not aware of any press reaction to 
the Kurdish performance.  Use of a "mother tongue" language, 
even briefly, without major outcry, is a small step forward. 
The true litmus test, however, will be the introduction of 
regular "mother tongue" broadcasting, something which was 
legalized as part of the 2002 EU reforms, but which has yet 
to be implemented.  End comment. 
SMITH