Fifteen years of emergency rule in southeastern Turkey came to an end Nov. 30 when Turkey lifted curfews and restrictions in two predominantly Kurdish areas. Diyarbakir and Sirnak were the final provinces to see emergency regulations withdrawn in an area where conflict had occurred for years between the Turkish military and Kurdish rebels. The move comes at a time when Turkey is trying to persuade the European Union to invite it to join the group, and the EU has been encouraging Turkey to grant greater rights to its Kurdish minority. The Turkish military will continue to have a major presence in the region, but the lifting of restrictions should improve access for travelers.
