BY ERGUN BABAHAN
SABAH- After the announcement of a US timetable for withdrawing from Iraq, efforts to eradicate terrorism in the region have accelerated. Washington is to withdraw most of its soldiers from northern Iraq. Iraq was unable to find peace under occupation. Northern Iraq is now the calmest region, but there's also tension with Turkey due to the terrorist PKK. If Iraq is to find stability, this tension should be eliminated. So both the central government and the northern Iraq administration are looking to solve the PKK issue before the US leaves, and Washington seems to want the same. Recent statements by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani show that the pressure on the PKK to lay down its weapons will increase. These are all positive developments.
The PKK, unable to find a headquarters and logistical support in Iraq, is likely to be facing tough times and could choose to give up violence. But we should also accept that quite apart from the PKK, we still have a Kurdish issue. Kurds in Turkey's southeast are looking for solutions to their problems. Their needs are too pressing to be solved by new state broadcasts in Kurdish alone. On the other hand, some of their problems could be solved without too much trouble.
The Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) recently published a report called 'A Roadmap for Solving the Kurdish Question' based of the views of various experts, opinion leaders and representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) thought to represent our citizens of Kurdish origin. The opinion leaders of the region believe that the government has to gauge the views of all sectors of region before taking steps there. Just like all other sectors in Turkey, they want a new constitution, but in light of current political conditions, this seems unlikely.
Especially in the runup to local elections next March, chances for a new constitution seem dim. Right now there is also a press to change the election rules, including halving the election representation threshold to 5 percent. The report also includes views about the PKK laying down its arms. Some favor a law on disarming that doesn't mention the word 'penitence,' establishing an amnesty, and providing militants with rehabilitation. In addition, there are requests to allow the wide usage of the Kurdish language in the region.
The political leadership might not be able to meet or accept all of these requests. What's important is to keep dialogue with the region open and not to miss the opportunity to benefit from the atmosphere of peace which was encouraged by international conditions. It's important for the Iraqi administration to stand with Turkey against terrorism, but it's also important for Turkey to see that southeastern Anatolian doesn't just mean the terrorism issue and that it should be determined to take proper steps there.