Municipality Gives Muti-Lingual Services

Sur Municipality approved the proposal to give services in Armenian, Syrian, Arabic and English as well as Turkish and Kurdish. Mayor Demirbas says it's important to consider local population's languages for furnishing better services.

BIA News Center08/01/2007 Nilufer ZENGINBİA ( Diyarbakır) - Diyarbakır's Sur Municipality begins giving out services in Armenian, Syrian, Arabic and English as well as Turkish and Kurdish.

Mayor Abdullah Demirbas told bianet that it's important to take into account the languages talked in the local population for better services.

Municipality assembly accepted the proposal with a majority of 17 over seven. Pro Kurdish Democratic Society Party holds the municipality while only one member of the ruling Justice and Development Party approved the proposal.

Demisbas said Diyabakır is home to 33 civilizations and while official writings are done in Turkish, other languages should be used in services.

This move opened up a debate as professors of law tell that this can result in a breach of the principle of equality if the municipality favors workers who speak those languages.

Other than that, Turkey had already recognized the right to learning and teaching in languages other than Turkish during reforms for EU accession talks.(NZ/EU)