Militant proponents of Turkey?s newly publicly celebrated Kurdish identity threatens to complicate further progress on the very rights that they claim to fight for.
In a blow to Turkey's hopes of joining the EU, a report has concluded that reforms there slowed in 2007 because of a constitutional crisis.
Turkey tried to allay fears Thursday about its plans for a possible cross-border assault on Turkish Kurd rebels based in northern Iraq, saying such an attack would target guerrilla bases and not amount to an invasion.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is headed to Turkey, where she will meet with officials on the Iraq-Turkey border crisis.
Turkey tried Thursday to allay fears about its plans for a possible cross-border assault on Kurdish rebels in Iraq, saying such an attack would strike at guerrilla bases and not amount to an "invasion."
Turkey stepped up pressure on Iraq's Kurdish-run north with economic sanctions Thursday, ahead of talks with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice who is seeking to dissuade Ankara from a cross-border military strike.
Turkey said on Thursday planned economic sanctions would only target outlawed Kurdish militants and groups providing them with support in northern Iraq.
A key European Union report has concluded that reforms in Turkey slowed in 2007 because of a constitutional crisis over the election of a president with an Islamic background.
Turkey said on Thursday planned economic sanctions against Kurdish militants in northern Iraq would be targeted at groups providing support for the rebels.
Turkey on Thursday dismissed concerns that a row over the safe haven Kurdish rebels enjoy in northern Iraq would hijack the agenda of a multinational conference in Istanbul on Iraq's security.