A lesson on how to Turn the problem into the Solution

The

The burden of the Kurdish issue is still hanging over the head of Erdogan and it is the issue that most severely undermines the Turkish government’s credentials in the international scene. In fact, the main criticism that the political opposition raised during the electoral campaign in 2007, was the inability of the government to tackle the guerrilla attacks that are frequenting the Southern part of the country.

The problem with the Kurdish separatism dates back to 1925 and has had huge impact on the Turkish politics ever since. The Turkish constitution does not allow recognition of national minorities with the presumption that this will unify the nation .On the contrary, the constitutional framework opened a Pandora’s Box of repression and social injustice.

The Kurds have been culturally repressed, banned from practicing their own language or expressing their ethnic identity in the public domains for decades. The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), known for its terrorist activities and separatist initiatives, is perceived as the main threat to the Turkish sovereignty.

POSITIONS

The Turkish army, which is the second pillar of the Turkish governance, insists on managing the conflict by invading northern Iraq. In military terms, the fight against the Kurds is a zero-sum game and high-rank military officials have numerously censured the government for not acting firmly on the issue. The governing party, however, has to bounce off the domestic pressure and the European Union’s demands. The EU has been clear that intervention will not be well received and will block the accession process. Moreover, if Turkey is to undertake effective adoption of the acquis comunitare, it needs to not only allow the Kurds to freely express their cultural and ethnic heritage, but also to protect their right to do so. The situation is further complicated by the deterioration of the relations with the United States. Bush’s policies towards the Iraqi Kurds are seen in Ankara as hostile to the Turkish national interests. The US is unwilling to take decisive actions against PKK, because it fears that such actions will alienate the Kurds in Iraq, who have been very cooperative with the coalition forces.

THE RESULTS

That gambit situation puts Turkey in a state of limbo. Therefore, in order to strengthen and reaffirm his position as the mediator between Europe and Asia, Erdogan has manoeuvred his way back to binding with the neighbours. Considering the Islamic roots of his party and the strategic geo-political position of Turkey, the apparent shift towards Saudi Arabia and Syria has caused quite the stir in Washington and Brussels. Consequently, Turkey is reassuming its role as an important stakeholder on the international political scene.