If not the 'Northern Iraq initiative,' then what is it?

I have been saying from the beginning that the “Kurdish initiative” is in fact a “Northern Iraq initiative.”

Turkey has been suffering the Kurdish conflict for too long. Many have tried to settle it, but none have had enough courage. So we have been dealing with this issue for 85 years.

My belief is that the latest initiative in this direction will not work, and the logic behind is faulty as well.

Earlier this year, it was announced that the road map to a solution would be revealed Aug. 15, as the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, leader Abdullah Öcalan planned. And the government hit the road, meeting with several journalists at first.

But nothing concrete emerged!

Later, the release date of the initiative was changed to “sometime in September,” but did not happen. Then Parliament’s re-opening was given as the new date, yet this did not work either. We heard it would be in mid-October. And now it is said to be in early November.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said last week, “The initiative will be discussed in Parliament first and then in all provinces.”

Along the way, the name has been changed from “Kurdish initiative” to “democratic initiative.” But I think the latest version is “unity project.”

The only concrete step has been the entry of PKK militants by Öcalan’s order at the Habur border gate Oct. 19. Although they said, “We are not seeking amnesty,” Article 221 of the Turkish Penal Code, or TCK, on “effective repentance,” was applied to all.

The government toadies love to distort the law, but the people did not buy it this time!

As we face a public stir because of the initiative, they again are screaming that “Families of the soldiers killed by the PKK are against the initiative and being provoked by Ergenekon,” but no one believes it.

At this point, no one knows whether the initiative will survive!

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On the other hand, progress has been made in the “Northern Iraq initiative” as solid steps have been taken in the presence of related countries.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu paid a visit to Northern Iraq last week. Administrators in the region have bulldozed the PKK. The organization’s sphere of influence is getting narrower every day.

The United States has clearly announced a road map of its own and has taken critical steps to pave the way for a “Northern Iraq initiative.” U.S. Ambassador to Ankara James Jeffrey revealed this road map to Murat Yetkin of daily Radikal on Oct. 23:

“...Recently American authorities took measures against three PKK leaders who are known to be involved in drug connections. These measures were taken according to the U.S. system. There are other initiatives. For instance, we are speaking with Danish authorities regarding the Roj TV issue. We are in touch with both the central government and the Kurdistan Regional Administration, or KRA, in Iraq. A few days ago, a commander of the 25th Infantry Division deployed in northern Iraq held a meeting with KRA officials on what new measures could be taken. Two days ago, our foreign affairs spokesman declared our support to Turkey in steps to be taken against the PKK...”

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The KRA is working hard. The U.S. is pitching in. The Turkish Foreign Ministry is making efforts to come up with some solid actions and plans.

On the other side, there is nothing concrete on the “Kurdish initiative” since May. Or, rather, the entrance of the PKK militants was the only solid step taken, but now there is nothing else.

Now, you tell me: Are all these part of the “Kurdish initiative” or of the “Northern Iraq initiative,” which the U.S. has launched within the scope of withdrawal from Iraq?