Turkey’s Kurdish Initiative In Regional Context
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ambition to be “peacemaker” on the Kurdish issue has to be linked to Turkish policies in Iraq and Syria, writes Cengiz Candar.
One of the most striking successes of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government in Turkey has to be its masterful management of the most exciting agenda item of the country which the public refers to as the “peace process” instead of the “solution process.”
At the moment, Erdogan on stage and Abdullah Ocalan off stage from his prison island are taking Turkey toward peace with seemingly choreographed moves. Questioning this captivating dream is not allowed, even if prompted by intellectual curiosity, because it might spoil the dream of peace. Erdogan, the ultimate arbiter, announced 63 names of people who will make up the “Commission of Wise People,” which will take on the initiative to enlighten the public on the peace process through meetings, symposiums, panels, etc., in seven different Turkish regions. The group includes some well-known journalists, prominent leaders of nongovernmental organizations, celebrities such as movie stars and popular singers, and several academic experts.
On April 4, Erdogan gathered the entire commission for dinner at the Dolmabahce Palace where he has a prime ministry office. He praised them extensively, described the “peace process” once again and gave them a mandate of two months that would be concluded with the submission of reports from each of the seven "wise people" sub-committees. This was a major public relations move by Erdogan. He managed to mobilize a broad spectrum of intellectuals around his efforts thanks to the “magic” of promising “peace” between Turkey and the Kurds.
During this meeting behind closed doors, Erdogan revealed the results of a poll he had requested and trusts. He related the percentage of support for the “peace process” in the different regions of the country. In Turkey’s heavily Kurdish populated regions of the southeast and east, the support for the process appears to be 87% and 71%, respectively. In the strong conservative and nationalist Central Anatolia region support is said to be 57%. From figures of Central Anatolia it is understood that the ruling party has captured some Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) strongholds and dented its popular base. Those who approve and do not approve are equal at 43% in the Black Sea region, while 47% is in favor and 41% is against the process in the Mediterranean region.
