BY OKAN MUDERRISOGLU
SABAH- The government's democratic initiative is finally coming before Parliament. A solution to the Kurdish issue, long intertwined with the terrorism issue, is now being entrusted to its essential owner, the nation's will as represented by Parliament. And now we have a unique opportunity to read the dynamics of this initiative through recent visits paid by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and State Minister Zafer Caglayan. Their meetings with the regional administration in Iraq can be seen from the viewpoint of both Turkey and Massoud Barzani, the leader of the regional administration. The Kurdish leaders who saw Davutoglu were smiling. Turkey's red lines in northern Iraq were actually removed back in March 2003 when Turkey rejected a motion for the deployment of US soldiers through its territory into Iraq. The people of northern Iraqi are glad to see Turkey opening a consulate in Erbil six year after the Iraq war began, as they believe this shows Ankara 's new approach on the region becoming official. But behind this happy picture lie concerns about future. Even if Barzani and his team work hard, the current good state of affairs is unlikely to be sustainable. The atmosphere of cooperation created by the new Baath current that was developed in Iraq in the Sunni-Shiite Arab community has forced Kurds people to look for guarantees for the future. Kurdish administrations will likely look to Turkey for support. As long as the Kurds, who aren't under occupation due to their alliance with the US , are a target of resistant Arabs, the continuation of Iraqi Kurdistan lies in doubt.
Looking at Erbil from Turkey 's point of view, it's important to focus on the future, not the past. The rapprochement of Turkey with both Syria and Iran is limiting the terrorist PKK's maneuvering room in the region. Steps taken in the US and the European Union could spell the end of the terrorist group, which is now stranded in the mountains. Energy moves aimed at heading off global crisis also makes it impossible to tolerate terrorists in northern Iraq. The vision drawn by Davutoglu for Barzani should be considered from this view. In the new regional balances, various ethnic and religious elements can express themselves freely, and physical borders are being removed in an atmosphere in which terrorist groups don't poison relations... What's more, the democratic initiative shows a picture of Turkey moving forward without military methods. This forces Barzani and his allies to support Ankara , under US pressure as well. Although we ignore it, there's a separate little state of Kurds just next to us, and some representatives of big states are willing to secretly use resources in those areas. So reaching a solution which can eliminate the PKK, without getting involved in arguments about recognizing the regional administration in northern Iraq , would benefit Turkey.
Once Iraq is considered from the point of view of Mosul , you can see dramatic facts. The traces of the occupation are continuing in Mosul and its environs, where many Sunni Arabs and Turkmen live. A collapsed city, and faces full of fear. The left side of the 2-kilometer road from the airport to Turkey 's Consulate in Mosul has a big wall, and the left side has sandbags and barbed wire. There is a checkpoint every 200 meters and armed soldiers everywhere. Of course, there are also so-called Iraqi soldiers. You also always hear the buzzing of US helicopters, as if to say we're still here and you're here with our permission. Strategy analysts say the Turkish Armed Forces is one of Turkey 's chief assets. The situation of Iraqis alienated in Mosul, in their homeland, reminds us again of the value of a strong army in a strong democracy, the necessity for a unitary structure, and the indispensability of national solidarity.