ANKARA - Stating that the Kurdish issue is not only a "weapon issue" and that solving its consequences without solving the issue itself will not have a positive aspect, DEM Party membet Emirali Turkmen said, "the environment for laying down arms must be created. Once this is established, the parliament must assume its historical responsibility and a new social contract for Turkey must be built."

 

Pointing to the discussions on the solution of the Kurdish issue, DEM Parti Central Executive Committee member Emirali Turkmen warned that the possibilities for peace have emerged, but if they are missed, Turkey will face a great darkness and the state must fullfill its responsibility. 

 

Discussing Turkey's approach to the Kurdish issue within the framework of the developments in the Middle East and the global balance of power, Türkmen called on social and political actors to take responsibility for a solution.

 

A NEW DESIGN THROUGH NATO

 

Stating that the US wants to reshape the Middle East through NATO, Turkmen said, "The world is under the influence of a wave of racism, nationalism and authoritarianism. As neoliberalism is slowly leaving the stage of history, it leaves behind shattered societies and an extremely corrupt and polluted political sphere. In recent years, they want to give new forms to the geography. The attempts of global and regional powers to reshape their sovereignty in the Middle East geography through new energy routes continue. In recent weeks, there is almost a single agenda on the world agenda; Syria. It seems that the big powers have agreed on the 'big picture'." 

 

Referring to Hamas' attack on Israel in 2023 and the subsequent war launched by Israel against Gaza, Turkmen said that this devastating war has affected the entire Middle East and still continues to do so. 

 

Turkmen added, "This situation has caused many alliances, relations and contradictions to take shape or come to light in the international arena. Now the discussions have gained a new dimension. The power of Russia and Iran in the region has disappeared. It is true that Iran's power in the region has weakened considerably. With the Ukraine War, Russia naturally ceased to be an actor in Syria. Everyone is referring to Israel, but I think it is a NATO-centred design. Let's not forget that Turkey is one of the main actor countries of NATO."

 

Pointing to Turkey's Syria policy in this process, Turkmen said that the policy of denying the Kurdish existence is being pursued more visibly. "They say that the whole problem is terrorism and security. However, the Kurds in Rojava fought a great war against ISIS. As a result of this war, they have ensured their own security by providing reconstruction and are in the process of establishing a social order. While they see themselves as 'part of Syria', they support the democratic transformation of the central state and the acceptance of local autonomies within the constitutional framework," Turkmen said.

 

Drawing attention to the attacks of Turkey and its paramilitary groups against North and East Syria, Turkmen underlined that Turkey must get rid of its Kurdish phobia first and foremost. 

 

Stating that the Kurdish issue is the crux of Turkish politics, Turkmen said, "The Kurdish issue is a regional and global problem that has been left unresolved since the beggining of the 20th century and has penetrated all areas of life in historical, sociological, economic, political and ideological terms. Today, all the problems experienced in the Middle East geography, especially the war, come back to the unresolved Kurdish issue. The Kurdish issue is the undisputed nodal point of Turkey's current political life. The extraordinary traffic and developments in recent days in the context of the Kurdish issue have shown that we live in a geography where 'the extraordinary has become ordinary and the abnormal has become normal'."

 

Stating that Turkey has held many meetings with the Kurdish movement, Turkmen stresses: "In Turkey, political governments have held at least 8-9 meetings with the Kurdish movement since the Special Period. Both the world experiences and especially the negotiations in Oslo and the process we call the 'solution process' were a process that we all closely followed, had knowledge of and read about. When we look at these experiences, we see that it is imperative to resolve the conflictual process through negotiation and mutual reconciliation. Abdullah Öcalan, the founder of the Kurdish movement, has long had important ideas about the construction of Kurdish-Turkish brotherhood. When we look at the 7 articles he sent during the meeting in İmralı, he clearly states that not only the democratic solution of the Kurdish issue, but also the democratic transformation of Turkey as a whole is necessary, and that a solution is only possible through democratic transformation and unity. This new process is a great achievement for Turkey. World experience has shown us that conflictual processes can only be ended through negotiations. Now such an opportunity has arisen. Winning peace is the future of all of us. In order to establish an honourable peace in Turkey and the region and to build an equal and common democratic future, it is of vital importance for those who want peace to carry out socialisation activities for the struggle for peace."

 

Underlining the need to raise awareness in society that Turkey cannot be democratised without a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue, Türkmen said that this is possible only if all democracy forces embrace the peace process. Stating that the society wants a solution with honourable peace, Türkmen said they must ask what kind of Turkey do they want and underlined those who give messages of developing a 'new' discourse on the Kurdish issue continue unlawful attempts against the will of the people with trustee operations. Pointing out that the Turkish society, with its nationalists, Kemalists, Islamists, nationalists, liberals, socialists, Alevis, liberals, all agree that the Kurdish issue must be solved, Turkmen stated that at the current stage, they want the problem to be solved. 

 

Stating that PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan is based on the necessity of coexistence not only in Turkey but also in the Middle East, Turkmen said, "Öcalan proposes a new democratic social order for Kurds, Turks, labourers, women and all segments of society. The pain, losses and social destruction caused by the long years of conflict in Turkey have led to a strong desire for peace. The Kurdish-Turkish brotherhood is put on the agenda by Öcalan as an essential discourse for the end of this period of conflict and the construction of a lasting peace environment. If the state ignores basic demands such as brotherhood, mother tongue, cultural and political rights, 'brotherhood' remains in words. For brotherhood to be realised in real terms, democratic equality must be put into practice. Abdullah Öcalan wants the ongoing conflicts to stop. He thinks that people can move forward by negotiating and talking about their social issues, and that the possibilities for this have been created as of where we are now. One of the most fundamental tasks ahead of us is to grow the line of negotiation and struggle that will defend peace and life against war policies, and to bring about a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue. Creating an environment of dialogue and negotiation for the possibility of a democratic political solution to the Kurdish issue is only possible through the establishment of constitutional guarantees. The solution of the Kurdish issue in all its dimensions, the construction of a democratic Turkey, the coexistence of peoples with their different identities and cultures under constitutional guarantees, and our future is possible with a libertarian democratic republic based on the understanding of lasting peace."

 

'AN ENVIRONMENT FOR LAYING DOWN ARMS MUST BE CREATED'

 

"Turkey will either turn into a dictatorial regime or seek solutions to its social problems," said Turkmen and added, "If Turkey insists on insolvency, a dark process will be entered into. The government already does not recognise any rights and laws. We are faced with a dark Turkey where the instruments of violence speak, negotiation environments are destroyed, constitutional guarantees are no longer in place, and our demands for work, love and freedom are ignored. I would also like to say that this will not be only for Kurds. If a democratic transformation is not achieved, Turkey will be dark for everyone. Turkey needs a new social contract that democratises itself, solves the Kurdish issue through democracy and constitutionally guarantees the rights of Kurds.

 

Stressing that the Kurdish issue is not only a problme of weapons Turkmen said for laying down arms a democratic environment must be built. Turkmen added, "The responsibility lies with the government. State language that leaves us in limbo, turns into violence, remains in a foggy environment and is irrational must come to an end. AKP Chair and President Erdoğan and the state have serious duties in solving the Kurdish issue. Bahçeli, Erdoğan, DEM Party and the main opposition all say 'let's solve the problem' and they all point to the Parliament. CHP wants a commission to be established in the Parliament. I would like to ask why this commission is not being established. Look, the second step is in the hands of the political power. The political power should stop throwing flour on the table. Again, talks with Abdullah Öcalan should be increased. The environment for laying down arms must be created. Once this is established, the parliament must assume its historical responsibility and a new social contract for Turkey must be built and responsibility must be taken."

 

THE ROLE OF THE LEFT WING

 

Turkmen said the following about the role of the left wing on the solution of the Kurdish issue, "It is also the duty of the left to shoulder the goals that will solve the equal citizenship rights of the Kurdish people and Turkey's democratisation problems. There is no justification for the revolutionary, democratic, left and socialist forces to take the initiative in this historical process and carry the social movement to another level, but instead to remain ineffective, to be spectators, and to keep circling around in a language and attitude that will cause concern and anxiety. Those who take responsibility will grow. Historically, it is primarily the duty of socialists to pave the way for a practice of struggle in which our concerns are replaced by our determination, and to find ways and methods to establish strong unions of struggle. We are aware that none of us can be free and equal in a place where one of us experiences injustice. All social and political circles, all trade unions and mass organisations should take responsibility. We should not be afraid of peace. Peace is a political culture. We all have great responsibilities. The possibilities for establishing peace have emerged. We will have the means to establish a more democratic, liberal and pluralistic Turkey."

 

MA / Mehmet Aslan