THE CORRIDOR

Iraq visit to determine initiative’s fate

We are rounding the last bend in the Kurdish Initiative. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has indicated that the opening’s plans will be implemented by the beginning of next year. Interior Minister Beşir Atalay implied that arrangements would be announced following a session in parliament in which the initiative is to be discussed. Atalay focuses on two points in relation to the initiative: One is its democratic aspect, while the other is concerned with bringing outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, members down from the mountain. If this is the case, why is this special session being delayed? There is much speculation about the reasons for this delay in Ankara, but I think the main reason is the Iraq visit in which many government members plan to participate.

Erdoğan will lead the delegation in the hope of achieving some momentous results, for following the meeting, there is the expectation that the PKK will be brought down from the mountain due to Iraqi and U.S. pressure. Any successes on this front would be at the very heart of the initiative. Let me clarify this for you:

After meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, Syrian President Bashar al-Asad said Syrian PKK members might return home. Although they have not been discussed publicly, several attempts have also made in this direction in Iran. A similar attempt will be the main reason behind the Turkish delegation’s Iraq visit. Everything will be laid down clearly and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani’s involvement will be sought in order to bring the PKK down from the mountain. Other forces that have a say in Iraq, primarily the U.S., will also pressure the organization at this point. The aim of the delegation is to make the PKK lay down its arms and begin taking steps toward peace. Because the Turkish government is so intent on this goal, it will share information on future steps with the Iraqi government. Perhaps the Iraqi government will also have thoughts to share with the Turks about the initiative. In the end, the Turkish government will seek to present a message that says, “We are trying for democratization, more freedoms and economic prosperity. Help us liquidate this terror structure. Let’s solve this problem together.”

The content of the visit makes the delay in the parliamentary session more understandable. If the Turkish delegation has strong support from Iraq, the initiative will gain momentum. At the very least, expectations are high on this front. This is why a secret session was requested in the first place. Despite this, even in an open session after the Iraq visit, the outcomes of the Iraqi meetings will not be totally shared with the opposition. This notwithstanding, Deniz Baykal, the leader of the Republican People’s Party’s, or CHP, could be briefed on the meetings behind closed doors in an appointment with Erdoğan.

The government seeks to have stronger representation in this open session and has taken robust steps to solve the Kurdish question. Perhaps Erdoğan has been very determined in his most recent remarks because of encouragement he has received from Iraq regarding a possible solution to the issue. The meetings in Iraq may, in the end, be the key to the Kurdish Initiative.

Başbuğ returns the DTP’s holiday card

Everyone was curious about the military’s attitude toward the Kurdish Initiative. İlker Başbuğ, the chief of the General Staff, recently commented on the issue. Top-level military officials have not been attending parliamentary sessions since the July 22, 2007 general elections because of the presence of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party, or DTP, in the chamber. Except for U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit, top commanders have not attended any sessions. However, they changed this attitude on Oct. 1 and participated in the opening of the new Parliament. This was then perceived as “support for the initiative despite the presence of the DTP in Parliament.” The military, however, was quick to react, exhorting everyone “to not read too much into the event.” Indeed, further events after Ramadan suggest the military has not softened its attitude toward the DTP: Two of the party’s deputies, Hasip Kaplan and Sevahir Bayındır, sent a holiday card to Başbuğ, but the cards were returned. The General Staff did not accept them and returned them to the deputies. Apparently, the military continues to take a hard stance against the DTP.

Anger control and Parliament

The Gaziantep deputy for the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, Fatma Şahin, along with some of her colleagues, tabled a motion in parliament to investigate the recent escalation of violence around the country, requesting more studies on “anger control.”  In addition to demanding that measures be taken to control the sources of anger and violence, the document called for a determination of risk groups and the prevention and reduction of aggressive behavior and violence.  The Turkish Parliament’s General Assembly is famous for verbal battles and fisticuffs. Independent Tunceli deputy Kamer Genç was recently attacked, while Fevzi Şıhanoğlu, another deputy, died in a past fight.  In critical session, tension runs high and violence and rage cannot be prevented. Although the prime minister says anger is a tool of speech, some deputies think parliament should be ground zero for new anger control measures.