Northern Iraqi Kurds need to understand us as well

In my article yesterday I told you about the conference regarding Turkish and Northern Iraq’s rapprochement organized by the American University and the Atlantic Counsel in Istanbul. I told you about the atmosphere in the conference and touched on expectations of Northern Iraqi Kurds and Turkey.

We really heard something different. We comprehended the sensitivity of those who participated in the conference. But there is another side of the coin. I have touched on this issue during the conference and would like to do so in this article.

I am among those who believe that Turkey and northern Iraq depend on each other. If tomorrow northern Iraq faces an attack or pressure due to one or the other reason, then it won’t be able to find a helping hand other than Turkey’s.

It won’t be able to lean on Iran. And there won’t be any support from the Sunni or Shiite.

Turkey and northern Iraqi Kurds are buffers for each other resisting bad action.

But there is only one condition for it to happen. And that is getting the PKK out of our way.

During discussions in this conference I came to the conclusion that our northern Iraqi Kurdish friends did not quite comprehend what the presence of the PKK in Kandil means to the Turkish people. I understood that they in general view the PKK case as a U.N. observer.

There were some who said: “The PKK is your internal problem. Do what ever is necessary to get out of this misery so we can get rid of it.” And I got up to make a friendly suggestion:

“Dear friends, if you want Turkey to stand by you then you need to pay attention to certain points.

Don’t underestimate the presence of the PKK in Kandil. Don’t adopt an attitude like the PKK was our internal problem and we needed to take care of it so you can rid yourselves of it. Don’t behave like the United Nations observer. Turkey does not expect you to fight the PKK by attacking the Kandil Mountains and kill Kurdish-origin people up there. We know you wouldn’t do and you wouldn’t want to do such a thing. But we expect you to be more sensitive and not to underestimate this issue. We will never be at ease as long as the PKK factor persists. Our relations will never take roots. We have come a long way and for the first time Turkey and northern Iraqi Kurds started to get to know each other. For the first time hostile attitude started to clear away. But I repeat once more, the only way for us to proceed is to eliminate the PKK between us. There is no other way. And the third point is, try to rid yourself of viewing Turkey as an enemy, as is the case in some parts of northern Iraq. And it’s true that in the future, as was the case in the past, there is no other country than Turkey that will understand and support you…”

I don’t know if they believed me. But I spoke as a person who was very sincere and who advocates a growing relationship.

And I am still of the same opinion.

We need to do our best to increase mutual trust.

And this is only possible through Kandil.

Two book reviews: Did they die or were they killed? 

Journalist-writer Şamil Tayyar again wrote an interesting book called “Pusu, Derin devlet Kurbanları” (Ambush, Victim of the Deep State). Tayyar in his book tries to lift the veil of mystery regarding deaths in the recent history of Turkey that have raised questions in the minds of people. He researched deaths that are still often talked about, from Turgut Özal to Muhsin Yazıcıoğlu, from Gen. Eşref Bitlis to Adnan Kahveci. He has done an extensive archive search. And the quote on the back of the book regarding the death of Muhsin Yazıcıoğlu and as to whether the helicopter “crashed or was forced to crash” is quite interesting: “Each intelligence service is specialized in one field. And our service is specialized in accidents” (Timaş Publications).

According to some, Turkey is a country full of conspiracies. There is always a conspiracy theory behind coups, assassinations and exploding bombs. All violent events that have taken place aim at provocation. You may believe in conspiracies and provocations but Atilla Akar’s book is very interesting. Akar in his book entitled “Türkiye Komplolar ve Provokasyonlar Tarihi” (Turkish History of conspiracies and provocations) looks at the hidden side of events on May 1, 1977 and on Sept. 6 and 7, the Sivas massacre and the Gazi district events (Profil Publishing).