Civil peace is in sight in Turkey
It is commonly known that there is a certain sensitivity regarding Turkey in the EU capital Brussels both at the EU Commission and the European Parliament (EP). However, despite this sensitivity, the EU and the EP have not supported the civil peace project, also known as the reconciliation process, currently ongoing in Turkey. It has not gained the attention it deserves, although the EU has been tracking its progress.
Those who try to block Turkey's EU membership "at all costs" used to love employing the argument that the country could not join the EU as long as the Kurdish problem and its associated casualties continued. Even those defining themselves as allies of Turkey were quite hopeless with regard to this issue. The actions and attitudes of the past Kemalist oligarchies that took advantage of the war with the PKK set an ideal atmosphere for those international circles who wanted to see a weak Turkey. The Kemalist oligarchies, which exploited the country for decades, together with the international supporters of this oligarchy and the PKK and its international proponents, who did not complain about the bloodshed and terror in Turkey, were the "winners."
However, the people of Turkey were suffering greatly regardless of whether they were Turkish or Kurdish. No day passed without the shedding of tears by Turkish and Kurdish mothers. Young people lost their lives in either official military uniforms or PKK uniforms, and numerous funerals were held all across the country each day. This atmosphere of terror, which lasted for 30 years, claimed the lives of more than 40,000 people.
But thankfully, Turkey is now turning its back on those hard times.
A reconciliation process was initiated thanks to the determined stance of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Erdoğan stated his determination that from now on, mothers would not weep in this country, demonstrating his will to solve the problem and end the terror. All the state institutions, particularly the intelligence units, mobilized to achieve this process. Turkey took major steps toward democratization in the face of the plot set against the country. When the public, which initially thought efforts to establish peace would be in vain, saw the results of these efforts, it began to willingly and sincerely support the process. Many Turkish and Kurdish intellectuals, including the renowned author Yaşar Kemal, who passed away this Saturday, worked hard to realize this project.
Of course, the interest lobby that took advantage of the conflict in Turkey, Turkish and Kurdish political circles entrapped in racist ideologies, "warlords" benefiting from the war, the remnants of the Kemalist oligarchy who hoped to prevent the path to a new Turkey through an atmosphere of terror and the "parallel structure," which is subordinate to foreign forces and tries to create chaos in Turkey, have worked as hard as they could to hamper this process. They are still maintaining their activities to undermine the process.
But they have not succeeded, and will not succeed, because in recent years mothers have not been weeping in Turkey. People in eastern and southeastern Turkey who have been the ones to suffer the most from the war are pleased with the process. The resolution of this problem has also increased the welfare of citizens since it was also a great burden on the Turkish economy. Everyone, particularly tradesmen and shopkeepers, is willing to make this peaceful atmosphere permanent and is ready to engage in any effort to achieve this.
The new Turkey is aware of the fact that the resolution of the Kurdish issue and end of terror are essential if the country is to evolve into a modernized, strong, social and democratic country. It is also aware of the lessons learned from past experiences and, thus has settled its accounts with the former Turkey, which suffered for decades under the rule of the Kemalist oligarchy.
Turkey's success in spoiling this game is critical both for the Middle East and the Islamic world as a whole. It is important for Muslims protecting democracy to resolve all the issues in their countries, which were democratized thanks to their efforts. In this sense, Turkey is very close to reaching its target of resolving the Kurdish issue, which was once seen as impossible.
On Saturday, the PKK's imprisoned leader, Abdullah Öcalan, made a call to the PKK. He said: "Our main target is to reach a democratic peace while bringing this 30-year-old conflict to a permanent peace. I invite the PKK to gather in an extraordinary congress in the spring months to make a strategic and historic decision on the grounds of disarmament as part of the principles of finding the least common denominator." His remarks are not arbitrary. He hinted at the point the reconciliation process and the efforts have reached so far. This call is also an announcement underlining that the armed struggle by the PKK has been conducting since 1984 must cease.
Turkey has entered the most difficult phase now. On the eve of general elections, all those against the reconciliation process will attempt to sabotage this latest development. I have no doubt about this. The pens of the media of the "parallel structure," interest lobbies and the Kemalist oligarchy have already started to write articles against this call. The racist elements within both Turkish and Kurdish society immediately issued provocative statements. Also, within the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), those who do not side with the call of disarmament raised their voices. They are trying to provoke Kurdish youth into another street uprising. This is because it is now evident that civil peace will soon be achieved and they will resort to any means to hamper it.
However, with all the Turks and Kurds believing in peace, Turkey is determined to achieve it.
Firstly, the PKK is required to lay down its arms. Secondly, the general elections on June 7 present a great opportunity to permanently reinforce social peace. The new Parliament will have a critical duty to make a new constitution that the new Turkey deserves by getting rid of the current Constitution imposed after the military coup. The new constitution of the new Turkey must guarantee peace.
When Turkey achieves this target, a great step will be taken not only for civil peace in Turkey, but for peace in the whole Middle East.
No matter whether Turkey joins the EU or not, it will certainly be a country where EU values are adopted, particularly in the field of social peace and stability.
Those who try to block Turkey's EU membership "at all costs" used to love employing the argument that the country could not join the EU as long as the Kurdish problem and its associated casualties continued. Even those defining themselves as allies of Turkey were quite hopeless with regard to this issue. The actions and attitudes of the past Kemalist oligarchies that took advantage of the war with the PKK set an ideal atmosphere for those international circles who wanted to see a weak Turkey. The Kemalist oligarchies, which exploited the country for decades, together with the international supporters of this oligarchy and the PKK and its international proponents, who did not complain about the bloodshed and terror in Turkey, were the "winners."
However, the people of Turkey were suffering greatly regardless of whether they were Turkish or Kurdish. No day passed without the shedding of tears by Turkish and Kurdish mothers. Young people lost their lives in either official military uniforms or PKK uniforms, and numerous funerals were held all across the country each day. This atmosphere of terror, which lasted for 30 years, claimed the lives of more than 40,000 people.
But thankfully, Turkey is now turning its back on those hard times.
A reconciliation process was initiated thanks to the determined stance of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Erdoğan stated his determination that from now on, mothers would not weep in this country, demonstrating his will to solve the problem and end the terror. All the state institutions, particularly the intelligence units, mobilized to achieve this process. Turkey took major steps toward democratization in the face of the plot set against the country. When the public, which initially thought efforts to establish peace would be in vain, saw the results of these efforts, it began to willingly and sincerely support the process. Many Turkish and Kurdish intellectuals, including the renowned author Yaşar Kemal, who passed away this Saturday, worked hard to realize this project.
Of course, the interest lobby that took advantage of the conflict in Turkey, Turkish and Kurdish political circles entrapped in racist ideologies, "warlords" benefiting from the war, the remnants of the Kemalist oligarchy who hoped to prevent the path to a new Turkey through an atmosphere of terror and the "parallel structure," which is subordinate to foreign forces and tries to create chaos in Turkey, have worked as hard as they could to hamper this process. They are still maintaining their activities to undermine the process.
But they have not succeeded, and will not succeed, because in recent years mothers have not been weeping in Turkey. People in eastern and southeastern Turkey who have been the ones to suffer the most from the war are pleased with the process. The resolution of this problem has also increased the welfare of citizens since it was also a great burden on the Turkish economy. Everyone, particularly tradesmen and shopkeepers, is willing to make this peaceful atmosphere permanent and is ready to engage in any effort to achieve this.
The new Turkey is aware of the fact that the resolution of the Kurdish issue and end of terror are essential if the country is to evolve into a modernized, strong, social and democratic country. It is also aware of the lessons learned from past experiences and, thus has settled its accounts with the former Turkey, which suffered for decades under the rule of the Kemalist oligarchy.
Turkey's success in spoiling this game is critical both for the Middle East and the Islamic world as a whole. It is important for Muslims protecting democracy to resolve all the issues in their countries, which were democratized thanks to their efforts. In this sense, Turkey is very close to reaching its target of resolving the Kurdish issue, which was once seen as impossible.
On Saturday, the PKK's imprisoned leader, Abdullah Öcalan, made a call to the PKK. He said: "Our main target is to reach a democratic peace while bringing this 30-year-old conflict to a permanent peace. I invite the PKK to gather in an extraordinary congress in the spring months to make a strategic and historic decision on the grounds of disarmament as part of the principles of finding the least common denominator." His remarks are not arbitrary. He hinted at the point the reconciliation process and the efforts have reached so far. This call is also an announcement underlining that the armed struggle by the PKK has been conducting since 1984 must cease.
Turkey has entered the most difficult phase now. On the eve of general elections, all those against the reconciliation process will attempt to sabotage this latest development. I have no doubt about this. The pens of the media of the "parallel structure," interest lobbies and the Kemalist oligarchy have already started to write articles against this call. The racist elements within both Turkish and Kurdish society immediately issued provocative statements. Also, within the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), those who do not side with the call of disarmament raised their voices. They are trying to provoke Kurdish youth into another street uprising. This is because it is now evident that civil peace will soon be achieved and they will resort to any means to hamper it.
However, with all the Turks and Kurds believing in peace, Turkey is determined to achieve it.
Firstly, the PKK is required to lay down its arms. Secondly, the general elections on June 7 present a great opportunity to permanently reinforce social peace. The new Parliament will have a critical duty to make a new constitution that the new Turkey deserves by getting rid of the current Constitution imposed after the military coup. The new constitution of the new Turkey must guarantee peace.
When Turkey achieves this target, a great step will be taken not only for civil peace in Turkey, but for peace in the whole Middle East.
No matter whether Turkey joins the EU or not, it will certainly be a country where EU values are adopted, particularly in the field of social peace and stability.
Last Update: March 02, 2015 19:45