The co-chair of the Democratic Union Party, Saleh Muslim, answered our questions about the ongoing discussions regarding the Kurdish issue in Turkey and Northern Kurdistan.
* Recently, there has been increasing talk about the Kurdish issue in Turkey and Northern Kurdistan, and the Turkish authorities have made some statements. On one hand, they talk about solution and dialogue, and on the other hand, they say, "There is no Kurdish issue, we will attack with all kinds of weapons," and they are indeed attacking. How do you evaluate this?
Things are changing in the Middle East. Some say, "The Middle East is witnessing a third world war," and this is true. The world's landscape has changed with every world war, and the current war is leading to systemic changes. World War I resulted in the emergence of nations and nationalities, and in World War II, the world was divided into two poles, which collapsed after 1990. Hence, there was a need for a new system, now referred to as the third world war. Many things can change in this new phase, including sovereignty, borders, countries, and governments. This process has been ongoing since 2010, and what is happening in the Middle East today falls within this framework, where the forces obstructing this process, such as Hamas and Hezbollah, are being eliminated.
The Turkish state is compelled
Turkey sees this clearly. Erdogan says, "Israel will attack us," which is geographically impossible, but Erdogan doesn't want to say, "The world is changing." The conditions in the Middle East require it. Turkey has not stopped its war against the Kurds for 10 years. Kurdish leaders and thinkers have told them, "If you solve the Kurdish issue, Kurds and Turks will win together. You (Turkey) can become a great power in the Middle East." But they ignored this. They have now realized the need for change and understood that they cannot do anything if they do not solve the Kurdish issue. The ongoing war for 10 years has led to their economic, political, and diplomatic bankruptcy. They are forced to find a solution, and that solution is to resolve the Kurdish issue, but they have not been convinced yet.
The Ottoman games never end
They have made many statements, but the only step taken so far is the greeting. Aside from that, there is no concrete step. They always backtrack on their statements. We saw this in the Dolmabahçe process in 2015; they didn't like it and turned the table upside down. The Kurds need to learn from their experiences. There were similar statements during Turgut Özal's time, but they backtracked. In 1993, there was a similar process, but the Turks spoiled it. There was another attempt during Erbakan's time in 1998, but Turkish fascism spoiled it again. The same thing happened during the Oslo process and in 2015. We need to learn from these experiences. It is true that external and internal conditions force them to take a step, but the Ottoman tricks never end, and they haven't taken any concrete step so far.
* Turkish officials made similar statements during the early stages of the Rojava Revolution. They invited you to Ankara, then labeled you and your party as "terrorists." So, if you compare that period with now, what do you say?
During the years 2013, 2014, and 2015, we were, and still are, emerging as a new force, and the international powers did not recognize us. Our struggle was against Jabhet al-Nusra, the Brotherhood, and others, whom Turkey had brought to confront us. At that time, Turkey was just getting to know us, and they would say, "a newly established group." They wanted to turn the situation around, saying, "We will invite them, deal with them, and satisfy them with the changes that will happen in the Middle East. We will deceive them and bring them into the Brotherhood." These were their attempts. At that time, I visited Ankara and Istanbul with comrades Ilham Ahmed and Asia Abdullah. We met with them, and they found that we would not fall under the wing of the Brotherhood and that we had chosen the third way in Syria. So, they classified us all as "terrorists."
* Is the current situation similar to that phase?
There is a trick, there was a trick back then and there is a trick now as well. Perhaps the tricks are different, in the matter of the Kurds, to what extent will they be able to divert the Kurds from their goals without giving them anything and deceiving them, so that they can say in the media: "We did it," but without doing anything on the ground. Back then, this trick was only for Rojava, but now it is for all Kurds.
* Leader Abdullah Ocalan recently met with his brother's son and the deputy from the Peoples' Democratic Party, Omer Ocalan, and sent an important message. How do you evaluate this?
The meeting is the right of the leader and the Kurdish people, and it came after 4 years of complete isolation. This is extremely important for us and our people. We were concerned about the health condition of the Kurdish people's leader, and he sent his greetings to his people while following the situation. He says: "I have theoretical and practical power if the opportunity arises." He enjoys international strength, and the eyes of the whole world are on him. The rest depends on the other party and how sincere they are; this will become clear.
* In your opinion, will the Turkish state take this step or not?
There is no other solution, as external and internal factors impose this on them. The leader of the Kurdish people is the key. There are Ottoman tricks; they want to downsize the issue and get rid of it, but their salvation is linked to the leader of the Kurdish people. The time has come, and they can no longer say, "We refuse." So now they say, "Let's make an effort to give them a little and convince them with a little."
What is needed to reach a solution or to embark on a proper process?
The conditions must be prepared for the Kurdish people's leader, Abdullah Ocalan, to communicate freely with his people, his movement, and the public. Without these conditions, nothing can be achieved, and then we cannot talk about any process. This is a necessity, and to engage in this process or start this phase, the conditions must be prepared. If you want peace, you must first give the Kurdish people's leader a chance.
I remember that during the Dolmabahçe process, the leader insisted on bringing the issue to the Turkish parliament, because that would give it an official status on one hand, and make the entire people discuss it on the other hand. This issue must be discussed in parliament, as the Kurdish people want equality and nothing else.
* Where do you think the situation is heading?
The current phase in the world and the Middle East necessitates resolving the Kurdish issue. If you desire stability in the Middle East, Syria, Turkey, and other places, you must solve your problems. International and regional powers have also realized this. The more you weave your plots, the longer the solution will be delayed. Delaying or procrastinating is not good; a solution must be reached. The method of solving it depends on the Kurdish people and other peoples. There may be plots, but we should not be mistaken. The Kurdish people have been oppressed and persecuted many times throughout history, but they have also led humanity. Now, the Kurdish people, along with other peoples, are building unity and stability. We are the pioneers of democracy in the Middle East, so we have a historical role to play. International powers have realized this, and we must continue our struggle in light of this truth.
T/ Satt.
ANHA
