While the Turkish army is bombing Northern and Eastern Syria, some within the Turkish government camp speak in a way intended to suggest a willingness to find a solution to the Kurdish question. In an interview with ANHA news agency, board member of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), Salih Muslim, assessed these developments.

The Kurdish question is being discussed in Turkey and North Kurdistan. The Turkish government has made statements about this. At the same time, the army attacks by the regime in Ankara are escalating. How do you evaluate this?

A change is underway in the Middle East. Some people think that a third world war is taking place in the Middle East, and that is true. In every world war there have been changes, and the current war is bringing about changes in the system. In World War I the nation-state came to the fore. In World War II the world became bipolar. This system collapsed in 1990, so a new system was needed. This reordering process is now called World War III. In this new system many things can change. Sovereignty, borders, state, government, etc. can change. This process has been going on since 2010 and what is happening now is part of it. Those who stand in the way of this project will be eliminated. This included Hamas and Hezbollah.

"The Turkish state is in a hopeless situation"

Turkey also sees what is happening. Erdoğan says: ‘Israel will attack us.’ This is not geographically possible, but Erdoğan does not want to admit that the world is changing. The conditions and developments in the Middle East make this necessary. Turkey has never stopped the war it has been waging against the Kurds for ten years now. The Kurdish representative and Kurdish intellectuals have said: ‘If you solve the Kurdish question, both the Kurds and the Turks will win; Turkey could become a major power in the Middle East.’ But they have not listened. Now it has been understood that change is necessary and that nothing is possible without a solution to the Kurdish question. After ten years of war, Turkey is on the brink of economic, political and diplomatic collapse. Turkey must find a solution. The way is to solve the Kurdish issue, but the Turkish government has not yet been able to bring itself to do so.

"The Ottoman game does not end"

Many words and speeches have been made, but nothing binding. Apart from that, no practical steps have been taken. Whatever the government says, it is denied the next day. We saw this after the Dolmabahçe Agreement in 2015. Back then, it destroyed everything. The Kurdish people should also learn from their experiences. During the Turgut Özal era, some promises were made, but they were not kept. In 1993, there was a negotiation process, but this was also broken off by the Turkish side. Another attempt was made in 1998 during the Erbakan era, but Turkish fascism destroyed it too. The same thing happened in Oslo and in 2015. We should learn from this. It is true that the internal and external situation force us to take action. But the Ottoman game does not end. No practical steps have been taken so far.

Turkish government officials made similar statements at the beginning of the Rojava revolution. They invited you to Ankara, but then labeled you and your party as “terrorists”…

In 2013, 2014 and 2015, we came to the fore as a force. The international powers did not recognize us. We waged war against al-Nusra, the Muslim Brotherhood and other mercenary groups. Turkey had incited them against us. At that time, Turkey had just recognized us, they said: ‘A new group has emerged.’ This is how they wanted to reverse the situation. It was about getting us to line up with them and eventually join the Muslim Brotherhood. That was what it was about then. At that time, Ilham Ehmed, Asya Abdullah and I traveled to Ankara and Istanbul and sat with Turkish government officials. When they realized that we would not put ourselves under the control of the Muslim Brotherhood and that we were choosing the Third Way in Syria, they declared us “terrorists.”

Is the situation today comparable to that?

It is a game. It was a game then, and it is a game now. The games may be different. They want to distract the Kurds from their goals and fob them off without giving them anything. The Turkish government will go before the press and say that it did this and that, but in practice nothing will happen. Back then it was only about Rojava, now it is about all Kurds.

Ömer Öcalan, nephew of Abdullah Öcalan and a member of the DEM party, was recently able to visit the Kurdish people’s leader in Imrali. Öcalan conveyed an important message. How should we assess this?

Visits to Imrali are a right of Rêber Apo [Abdullah Öcalan] and the Kurdish people. After four years of total isolation, a visit took place. We were seriously worried about Abdullah Öcalan's health. For this reason, this visit is very important for us and our people. He sent his greetings to our people and is following the process closely. In his message he said that if the conditions are right, he has the theoretical and practical power to move this process from a conflict and violent environment into a legal and political one. He has international power, the whole world is watching him. Now it is up to the other side, and it will be seen how honest they are.

But will Turkey take its necessary steps?

There is no alternative, the external and internal conditions make it imperative for them. The key is Abdullah Öcalan. Of course, the Ottoman game will continue to be played. It is about weakening and destruction. But the salvation of Turkey is in the hands of Abdullah Öcalan. The moment has come, the government can no longer refuse.

So what needs to be done for a solution or a meaningful process?

The conditions must be created for Abdullah Öcalan to be able to communicate freely with individuals, his people and his organization. If this does not happen, nothing will happen, and then we cannot talk about a negotiation process. These are the preconditions. Conditions must be created for the peace process to take place. If you want peace, you must first give Abdullah Öcalan these opportunities.

During the Dolmabahçe trial, Abdullah Öcalan insisted on bringing the matter to parliament. Because the issue was being discussed both officially and by the whole people. It should be discussed in parliament. The Kurdish people want equality, nothing else.

Where do you think the current situation will lead?

Global developments make the Kurdish question as urgent as the Middle East issue. If you want peace in the Middle East, Syria, Turkey and elsewhere, you must solve the underlying problems. International and regional powers have recognized this. The more games are played, the later a solution will come. Delays make the situation worse. This question must be solved. The solution depends on the Kurdish people and other peoples. There may be games, but we should not be deceived. The Kurdish people have been subjected to tyranny many times in their history, but they have also played a pioneering role for humanity. Today, the Kurdish people and other peoples are ensuring unity and peace. We are the pioneers of democracy in the Middle East, so we are expected to play our historic role today. International powers have also recognized this. We must continue our struggle in accordance with this reality.