Tweet
A TWO STATE SOLUTION FOR TURKEY?
Daniel Greenfield
Right Side News
http://www.rightsidenews.com/2011062113864/editorial/rsn-pick-of-the-day/a-two-state-solution-for-turkey.html
June 21 2011
Imagine a European Union member nation which represses an ethnic
minority that makes up a fifth of its population. Now imagine the
EU being forced to take sides in a domestic civil war within its own
union in which ethnic cleansing is the order of the day. That is the
fate awaiting the EU if it admits Turkey as it is.
Turkish intolerance of ethnic minorities resulted in the Armenian
genocide. And in the ongoing repression of its Kurdish population.
Turkish prisons are full of Kurdish political prisoners, some who
have done nothing more than use the Kurdish language in the wrong
place or sing a Kurdish song. Kurds have fought back against Turkish
state repression with a political and militant struggle. And despite
what Turkish authorities are telling their European counterparts,
that struggle is not over.
The same elections that gave the Erdogan regime another term, also
racked up political victory for Turkey's Kurds. Meanwhile chaos in
Iraq and Syria may be setting the stage for Kurdish independence in
both those countries. Iraq's Kurds already enjoy partial autonomy.
Should Syria's Kurds achieve full or partial autonomy, then Turkey
will be left to stand alone in its isolated policy of denying Kurdish
rights.
>From bombings by PKK militants to marches and political activism in
occupied Northern Kurdistan, it is increasingly clear that there
is no way forward for Turkey except through political autonomy in
Northern Kurdistan. The Erdogan regime has filled its prisons and
staged incursions into Western Kurdistan in Iraq. It has even been
accused of using chemical weapons against civilians. But the Turkish
perpetuation of the cycle of violence has not changed the determination
of the region's Kurds to win their independence.
The Kurds remain a ticking time bomb inside Turkey. And no responsible
European leader can accept Turkish entry into the EU until the Kurdish
situation is resolved. Slightly relaxing the oppressive cultural
restrictions is not enough. It is time that the Erdogan regime be
made to understand that it faces a choice between maintaining the
occupation of Northern Kurdistan and joining the community of nations.
After a generation of fighting the PKK, Turkey is no closer to
defeating it. The PKK is not going away and neither is the dream of
Kurdish independence. If the Erdogan regime wishes to maintain its
borders in the face of Kurdish independence in Western Kurdistan, then
it will have to negotiate with the same leaders it has been throwing in
prison. Only by allowing an autonomous Kurdish state within the borders
of occupied Northern Kurdistan, will Turkey gain stability and peace.
Accepting Kurdish autonomy in Northern Kurdistan will allow Turkey
to avoid a full fledged civil war and a two state solution which
will see portions of its territory annexed to Kurdistan. While the
Erdogan regime is confident that Europe and the rest of the world will
continue turning a blind eye to its repression of the Kurds, there is
no doubt that this will change in the event of a civil war. The world
will not stand by and witness another genocide carried out by Turkey.
And it will certainly destroy Turkey's prospects for EU membership.
Autonomy or a two state solution is in Turkey's own best interests
as well. Kurds have a higher birth rate than ethnic Turks do. Almost
double. And that means that if Turkey fails to separate itself from
the larger portion of its Kurdish population-- then all of Turkey
will eventually be Kurdistan.
Ending Turkish occupation of Northern Kurdistan will also leave
the Turkish economy in a better competitive position and reassure
international observers concerned about its stability. It will also
end the need for cross-border incursions which will sooner or later
lead to war.
The Turkish government has a limited time frame in which it can advance
a constructive solution. Its tactics of repression have failed,
its cultural band aids will only encourage a burgeoning desire for
independence and instability in Iraq, Syria and Iran mean that the
creation of a Kurdish state on its border is only a matter of time.
Now is the time for the Erdogan government to sit down with the
political representatives of the Kurdish people and their resistance
in pursuit of a negotiated solution.
Neo-Ottomanists within the Erdogan regime may still dream of an
expanding empire, but there is no place for such thinking in any nation
that wishes to be part of the European Union. And it is up to the
European leadership to make it clear that Erdogan and Davutoglu must
choose between imperialism and democracy. That Turkey's relationship
with Europe depends on a negotiated settlement of the Kurdish question,
as well as a recognition and restitution of the Armenian genocide,
the termination of its occupation of Cyprus and eventual withdrawal
from its occupation of Northern Kurdistan.
Turkey's economic successes should not be confused with political
stability or human rights. And the admission of an unstable country
at risk of fighting a bloody civil war against a fifth of its own
population remains untenable. It also raises serious questions about
the long term future of any foreign investment in Turkey. Particularly
in conflict areas.
The Erdogan regime should not be allowed to imagine that like China
it will be able to buy its way out of any uncomfortable questions
about human rights using economic leverage. Turkey is not China and
its high level of debt increase mean that it will not be able to
outproduce and outexport its troubles. With budget deficits as high
as 20 percent of its GDP and a troubled bond market, the Turkish
future is not as bright as the AKP's oligarchs like to pretend. And
domestic instability in the form of a large scale Kurdish uprising
could easily bring Istanbul's house of cards tumbling down.
European leaders have spent too much time flattering the Erdogan regime
and its oligarchy to share with them the hard truths that Turkey has
no future without meaningful reform. And beneath all those reforms
is the inescapable question of ending the occupation and achieving
a settlement with the Kurdish people.
Turkey must be willing to choose between Kurdish autonomy or a
withdrawal from occupied territory to pave the way for a Kurdish
state. There is no third option. Maintaining the occupation and
repression is not sustainable. And has no future.
If Istanbul really wishes to move forward, then it is time to begin
holding peace talks that address the national and political rights
of Kurdish citizens living in the occupied territories of Northern
Kurdistan. With Turkey increasingly dependent on IMF aid, that aid
should come with preconditions, including Turkish willingness to
participate in a peace conference with legitimate representatives of
the Kurdish people.
If Erdogan chooses to continue the repression of the Kurdish people,
then Turkey will join the likes of Burma and North Korea as a
rogue state, an Apartheid regime that will be brought down when the
aspirations of the Kurdish people are finally achieved in a state of
their own.
>From NY to·Jerusalem·, Daniel Greenfield Covers the Stories·Behind the
News. Daniel Greenfield is a blogger, author and columnists covering
international affairs, the rising threat of terrorism and the growing
problems of socialism. His daily blog can be viewed at·Sultan Knish.
From: Baghdasarian
Daniel Greenfield
Right Side News
http://www.rightsidenews.com/2011062113864/editorial/rsn-pick-of-the-day/a-two-state-solution-for-turkey.html
June 21 2011
Imagine a European Union member nation which represses an ethnic
minority that makes up a fifth of its population. Now imagine the
EU being forced to take sides in a domestic civil war within its own
union in which ethnic cleansing is the order of the day. That is the
fate awaiting the EU if it admits Turkey as it is.
Turkish intolerance of ethnic minorities resulted in the Armenian
genocide. And in the ongoing repression of its Kurdish population.
Turkish prisons are full of Kurdish political prisoners, some who
have done nothing more than use the Kurdish language in the wrong
place or sing a Kurdish song. Kurds have fought back against Turkish
state repression with a political and militant struggle. And despite
what Turkish authorities are telling their European counterparts,
that struggle is not over.
The same elections that gave the Erdogan regime another term, also
racked up political victory for Turkey's Kurds. Meanwhile chaos in
Iraq and Syria may be setting the stage for Kurdish independence in
both those countries. Iraq's Kurds already enjoy partial autonomy.
Should Syria's Kurds achieve full or partial autonomy, then Turkey
will be left to stand alone in its isolated policy of denying Kurdish
rights.
>From bombings by PKK militants to marches and political activism in
occupied Northern Kurdistan, it is increasingly clear that there
is no way forward for Turkey except through political autonomy in
Northern Kurdistan. The Erdogan regime has filled its prisons and
staged incursions into Western Kurdistan in Iraq. It has even been
accused of using chemical weapons against civilians. But the Turkish
perpetuation of the cycle of violence has not changed the determination
of the region's Kurds to win their independence.
The Kurds remain a ticking time bomb inside Turkey. And no responsible
European leader can accept Turkish entry into the EU until the Kurdish
situation is resolved. Slightly relaxing the oppressive cultural
restrictions is not enough. It is time that the Erdogan regime be
made to understand that it faces a choice between maintaining the
occupation of Northern Kurdistan and joining the community of nations.
After a generation of fighting the PKK, Turkey is no closer to
defeating it. The PKK is not going away and neither is the dream of
Kurdish independence. If the Erdogan regime wishes to maintain its
borders in the face of Kurdish independence in Western Kurdistan, then
it will have to negotiate with the same leaders it has been throwing in
prison. Only by allowing an autonomous Kurdish state within the borders
of occupied Northern Kurdistan, will Turkey gain stability and peace.
Accepting Kurdish autonomy in Northern Kurdistan will allow Turkey
to avoid a full fledged civil war and a two state solution which
will see portions of its territory annexed to Kurdistan. While the
Erdogan regime is confident that Europe and the rest of the world will
continue turning a blind eye to its repression of the Kurds, there is
no doubt that this will change in the event of a civil war. The world
will not stand by and witness another genocide carried out by Turkey.
And it will certainly destroy Turkey's prospects for EU membership.
Autonomy or a two state solution is in Turkey's own best interests
as well. Kurds have a higher birth rate than ethnic Turks do. Almost
double. And that means that if Turkey fails to separate itself from
the larger portion of its Kurdish population-- then all of Turkey
will eventually be Kurdistan.
Ending Turkish occupation of Northern Kurdistan will also leave
the Turkish economy in a better competitive position and reassure
international observers concerned about its stability. It will also
end the need for cross-border incursions which will sooner or later
lead to war.
The Turkish government has a limited time frame in which it can advance
a constructive solution. Its tactics of repression have failed,
its cultural band aids will only encourage a burgeoning desire for
independence and instability in Iraq, Syria and Iran mean that the
creation of a Kurdish state on its border is only a matter of time.
Now is the time for the Erdogan government to sit down with the
political representatives of the Kurdish people and their resistance
in pursuit of a negotiated solution.
Neo-Ottomanists within the Erdogan regime may still dream of an
expanding empire, but there is no place for such thinking in any nation
that wishes to be part of the European Union. And it is up to the
European leadership to make it clear that Erdogan and Davutoglu must
choose between imperialism and democracy. That Turkey's relationship
with Europe depends on a negotiated settlement of the Kurdish question,
as well as a recognition and restitution of the Armenian genocide,
the termination of its occupation of Cyprus and eventual withdrawal
from its occupation of Northern Kurdistan.
Turkey's economic successes should not be confused with political
stability or human rights. And the admission of an unstable country
at risk of fighting a bloody civil war against a fifth of its own
population remains untenable. It also raises serious questions about
the long term future of any foreign investment in Turkey. Particularly
in conflict areas.
The Erdogan regime should not be allowed to imagine that like China
it will be able to buy its way out of any uncomfortable questions
about human rights using economic leverage. Turkey is not China and
its high level of debt increase mean that it will not be able to
outproduce and outexport its troubles. With budget deficits as high
as 20 percent of its GDP and a troubled bond market, the Turkish
future is not as bright as the AKP's oligarchs like to pretend. And
domestic instability in the form of a large scale Kurdish uprising
could easily bring Istanbul's house of cards tumbling down.
European leaders have spent too much time flattering the Erdogan regime
and its oligarchy to share with them the hard truths that Turkey has
no future without meaningful reform. And beneath all those reforms
is the inescapable question of ending the occupation and achieving
a settlement with the Kurdish people.
Turkey must be willing to choose between Kurdish autonomy or a
withdrawal from occupied territory to pave the way for a Kurdish
state. There is no third option. Maintaining the occupation and
repression is not sustainable. And has no future.
If Istanbul really wishes to move forward, then it is time to begin
holding peace talks that address the national and political rights
of Kurdish citizens living in the occupied territories of Northern
Kurdistan. With Turkey increasingly dependent on IMF aid, that aid
should come with preconditions, including Turkish willingness to
participate in a peace conference with legitimate representatives of
the Kurdish people.
If Erdogan chooses to continue the repression of the Kurdish people,
then Turkey will join the likes of Burma and North Korea as a
rogue state, an Apartheid regime that will be brought down when the
aspirations of the Kurdish people are finally achieved in a state of
their own.
>From NY to·Jerusalem·, Daniel Greenfield Covers the Stories·Behind the
News. Daniel Greenfield is a blogger, author and columnists covering
international affairs, the rising threat of terrorism and the growing
problems of socialism. His daily blog can be viewed at·Sultan Knish.
From: Baghdasarian