Turkish radio broadcasting in Armenian merely political step

PanARMENIAN.Net - The beginning of radio transmission in the Armenian language in Turkey is merely political step, an Armenian expert said.



"Turkish authorities signal Yerevan that they are ready to continue the process of normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations," Alexander Iskandaryan, director of the Caucasus Institute, told PanARMENIAN.Net



Assurances of fulfilling commitments to the European Union on national minorities' rights protection are meaningless words, according to him.



"There are many national minorities in Turkey but neither of them has a radio channel in native language. Kurds are an exception, as there are millions of Kurds in the country and this problem is pressing," Iskandaryan said, adding that this initiative might be linked to the impending visit of U.S. President Barack Obama to Turkey.



According to Anatolian Agency, the first program will be broadcasted on April 24 when Armenians all over the world commemorate victims of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire.