There is another such zone in the north to protect the Kurdish minority.

Turkey also confronts the question of how to deal with its large Kurdish minority.

This policy was indirectly aimed at the internal problems both countries had with their Kurdish minorities.

Iraq's Kurdish minority has been fighting for autonomy for more than 30 years.

But the government has clearly been concerned about how its Kurdish minority might react to events in Iraq.

Government security forces will watch the Kurdish minority very closely but will not be likely to take military measures against them.

We will respect their full human rights," he said of the Kurdish minority, "and that they are first class citizens.

Union leaders have long demanded that the country improve its treatment of the Kurdish minority.

It is not solving the issues of the Kurdish minority on its territory.

Turkey must also, as you point out, improve its human rights record, especially its treatment of the Kurdish minority.