Remzi Kartal: not possible to exclude kurds from the solution
Remzi Kartal: not possible to exclude kurds from the solution
After the recent attacks by Iranian regime and Turkish army against Kurds, and after the statement by Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan, ANF has interviewed KONGRA-GEL president, Remzi Kartal about the possible future scenarios.
What is your assessment about the attacks by the Iranian regime?
In order to create favorable conditions for the research of a solution of the Kurdish question, the unilateral ceasefire decision by the PKK and PJAK has been answered by both Turkey and Iran with violence. They have continued in their war against the Kurdish people and the guerrilla forces. Despite having the support of the USA and Europe Turkey has not succeed in defeating the PKK. And this is true also in the case of the anti-Kurdish front, i.e. Iran, Turkey and Syria. Turkey is still hoping to get help from the Kurdistan Regional Government in its fight against the PKK. But it would be deluded as Kurds are not the same as before. Provocations on the part of Turkey will not be enough to put Kurds against Kurds, the Kurdish people will not allow this. Insisting on this war policies is actually deepening the economical and political crisis. And this in the long run will actually bring the solution of the Kurdish question on the political agenda. The same is true for Iran. Iran cannot solve its internal and external problems by war against Kurds. Policies which are heavily affected by Turkey.
What is the role of the Kurdistan Regional Government?
The role of the Kurdistan Regional Government is very important and it must not play in the hand of Turkey. In other words, the Kurdistan Regional Government does not have to give Turkey false hopes in relation to a possible conflict among Kurds. The Kurdistan Regional Government should play openly promoting a peaceful solution. Especially now, when a visit to Turkey by President Barzani is imminent. Our people are expecting such a role to be played by the Kurdistan Regional Government. They should defend the interests of all Kurds, they should promote a national conference which will be attended by all of the Kurdish parties. I must add that recent comments made by President Barzani goes in the direction of trust building among Kurds.
What is the role of the USA?
The instability of Middle East comes from the incapacity and unwillingness to solve the Kurdish question. The US policies are bond to Turkish policies and I think the US should stop upholding Turkey's position. These are policies denying the existence of the Kurds, of a people. They are policies which try to separate the Kurdish question from PKK. But by demonizing the PKK you actually deprive the Kurdish question of a political exit. If there is no shift in American policies it is going to be impossible not only to have a real change in the Middle East but also to have stability.
And the role of Europe?
Europe has had an historical role in the division of Kurdistan and at present-day it is upholding the American policies on the region. In other words, Europe does not have a precise or clear strategy and policy to the Kurdish question. It simply goes along with American policies.
Europe is acting on a request by Turkey and the US when it mount the kind of operation. It mounted recently against the Kurdish liberation movement and the Kurdish organizations of the Kurds in exile. This was the context in which the recent operations in Italy, Belgium and France have to be read.
Yesterday Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan, has said that he is going to withdraw as from the 31 of May, because he could not find any interlocutor. What is you opinion on this?
Kurdish leader Ocalan has not found any interlocutor on Turkish side and for this reason he is going to withdraw as he had stated before. His efforts have been ignored by the Turkish side. It is clear that on Turkish side there is no will to address the Kurdish question in a proper and serious way. This means to recognize first of all the problem, but even before that it means to recognize that all of the parties involved must have equal dignity and opportunity to express themselves. Think of solving the Kurdish question excluding the Kurds is obviously not possible.
What is your assessment about the attacks by the Iranian regime?
In order to create favorable conditions for the research of a solution of the Kurdish question, the unilateral ceasefire decision by the PKK and PJAK has been answered by both Turkey and Iran with violence. They have continued in their war against the Kurdish people and the guerrilla forces. Despite having the support of the USA and Europe Turkey has not succeed in defeating the PKK. And this is true also in the case of the anti-Kurdish front, i.e. Iran, Turkey and Syria. Turkey is still hoping to get help from the Kurdistan Regional Government in its fight against the PKK. But it would be deluded as Kurds are not the same as before. Provocations on the part of Turkey will not be enough to put Kurds against Kurds, the Kurdish people will not allow this. Insisting on this war policies is actually deepening the economical and political crisis. And this in the long run will actually bring the solution of the Kurdish question on the political agenda. The same is true for Iran. Iran cannot solve its internal and external problems by war against Kurds. Policies which are heavily affected by Turkey.
What is the role of the Kurdistan Regional Government?
The role of the Kurdistan Regional Government is very important and it must not play in the hand of Turkey. In other words, the Kurdistan Regional Government does not have to give Turkey false hopes in relation to a possible conflict among Kurds. The Kurdistan Regional Government should play openly promoting a peaceful solution. Especially now, when a visit to Turkey by President Barzani is imminent. Our people are expecting such a role to be played by the Kurdistan Regional Government. They should defend the interests of all Kurds, they should promote a national conference which will be attended by all of the Kurdish parties. I must add that recent comments made by President Barzani goes in the direction of trust building among Kurds.
What is the role of the USA?
The instability of Middle East comes from the incapacity and unwillingness to solve the Kurdish question. The US policies are bond to Turkish policies and I think the US should stop upholding Turkey's position. These are policies denying the existence of the Kurds, of a people. They are policies which try to separate the Kurdish question from PKK. But by demonizing the PKK you actually deprive the Kurdish question of a political exit. If there is no shift in American policies it is going to be impossible not only to have a real change in the Middle East but also to have stability.
And the role of Europe?
Europe has had an historical role in the division of Kurdistan and at present-day it is upholding the American policies on the region. In other words, Europe does not have a precise or clear strategy and policy to the Kurdish question. It simply goes along with American policies.
Europe is acting on a request by Turkey and the US when it mount the kind of operation. It mounted recently against the Kurdish liberation movement and the Kurdish organizations of the Kurds in exile. This was the context in which the recent operations in Italy, Belgium and France have to be read.
Yesterday Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan, has said that he is going to withdraw as from the 31 of May, because he could not find any interlocutor. What is you opinion on this?
Kurdish leader Ocalan has not found any interlocutor on Turkish side and for this reason he is going to withdraw as he had stated before. His efforts have been ignored by the Turkish side. It is clear that on Turkish side there is no will to address the Kurdish question in a proper and serious way. This means to recognize first of all the problem, but even before that it means to recognize that all of the parties involved must have equal dignity and opportunity to express themselves. Think of solving the Kurdish question excluding the Kurds is obviously not possible.
