Turkey and Armenia, neighbours divided by bitter conflict for almost a century, are intent on early diplomatic recognition and reopening their long-closed border. That was the good news that slipped out last week. The plan still has to get mutual parliamentary approval. There is strong nationalist opposition on both sides. But the Swiss-mediated negotiations have made much better progress than was expected.

Ankara’s announcement last week of new measures to ease cultural restrictions on the restive Kurdish minority was also good news. They stop short of constitutional amendments or an amnesty for former militants, but they are a step in the right direction.