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ISTANBUL: Real solutions needed

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  • ISTANBUL: Real solutions needed

    Today's Zaman, Turkey
    Nov 2 2014

    Real solutions needed

    by GÃ`NAL KURÅ?UN

    November 02, 2014, Sunday

    I have asked myself this question several times: Does this government
    want real solutions to the many issues Turkey has? We can ask this
    question regarding a number of prominent and well-known problems, such
    as the Kurdish issue, Cyprus, the Armenian genocide -- as well as
    other issues we consider domestic affairs. My answer is limited to
    what I see, particularly the actions and reactions of the government
    to these issues.

    In my opinion, the strategy this government has decided on, up until
    the 2015 elections, is to not really act, but to be seen as taking all
    necessary actions. At every point, they do not take the necessary
    steps, but they like it to appear as if they will take steps soon. In
    the Kurdish issue, we have been waiting for Godot to come for the last
    three years, as very limited steps forward were taken by the
    government that affect ordinary people's lives. They opened up a
    Kurdish language and literature department at Mardin Artuklu
    University which allows 20-25 students every year, and whenever there
    has been a demand for Kurdish language education in the last three
    years, they show this department as an example. If I was a Kurdish
    father, I would want my children to have Turkish and English lessons
    from the first grade or even before, in order to use it to earn money,
    but I would also want them to attend Kurdish classes at the same level
    in order to know their culture and mother tongue. This issue, to which
    the real solution would not be the end of the world, still remains
    unsolved. Kurdish language education will not divide Turkey, and it
    has no relationship to unity in the country, but the government has
    shown no signs of positive steps recently, which leads to harsh
    criticism and sometimes wild protests.

    In Cyprus, where we were expecting several steps from both sides, an
    energy crisis occurred, and we are at a point where it looks as if it
    is not strategic for either side to come to a solution. Sometimes
    problems help to fortify the positions of the two sides, as no real
    solutions are needed in order to save the day. Why should the Greek
    part unite with the poor north, as they have become an EU member
    already? Why should the Turkish side beg the Greeks, since they can
    enjoy power, even if it is isolated? If the solution is not strategic
    and beneficial for the day, both sides may choose not to solve it.

    The Armenian genocide issue is another pathetic problem for Turkey to
    confront. During football diplomacy days, we were very optimistic
    about a possible solution, particularly on giving up the denial policy
    and sending apologies and condolences. I'm not so sure that everybody
    supports this solution in Turkey for today, after 100 years of the
    denial policy. If the border opens with Armenia, if the limited
    diplomatic pressure on Turkey is removed, will it be that beneficial,
    if it means losing nationalist votes? We come upon another game theory
    at this stage, which deserves another column from me in the coming
    days.

    On the control of mines, the Justice and Development Party (AKP)
    government enacted an important law, namely Law No. 6331, the Work
    Health and Security Law, in 2012. Most of the vital provisions of this
    law are postponed until 2016. They've made a specific regulation on
    safety in mines, which was published on Sept. 24, to enter into force
    after one year. In 2014, up until today, we've lost more than 400
    workers in accidents in mines which have poor safety conditions.
    Statistically, there were 27,374 mine inspections made by state
    officials in 2005, whereas there were only 8,854 inspections in 2013.
    There were 54 closures and TL 379,000 in fines for mines that didn't
    fulfill the requirements of the mining law (Law No. 3213), whereas we
    see seven closures and TL 30,000 in fines in 2014.

    Minister of Labor Faruk Çelik confessed this yesterday in an exhausted
    manner, saying, `Whenever we close a mine, at least 50 people call to
    reopen it.' Can you still defend the idea that we want real solutions?

    http://www.todayszaman.com/columnist/gunal-kursun/real-solutions-needed_363286.html




    From: A. Papazian
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