Turkish Study: Military Operation Into
Southern Kurdistan would Spur Kurdish Nationalism
Turkish
Zaman
June
11, 2007
A Turkish military operation into northern Iraq
(Southern Kurdistan) would heighten Kurdish nationalism, and it is a mistake to
view the issue only in terms of "security" and "terrorism," suggested the
International Political and Strategic Research Center (UPSAM), an Ankara-based
think tank, in a recent report on terrorism, elections and an incursion into
northern Iraq.
The report highlighted that holding Turkey's Kurdish problem as equal to a
security issue was oversimplifying the matter, a concrete stumbling block on the
way to resolving the issue. The report also asserted that northern Iraq's
"mental harmony" with the US and the West in general was better than that of
Turkey.
The report, prepared by a large number of domestic and international academics
and security experts, emphasized that Turkey was mostly concerned about the
economic and military aspects of a possible incursion into northern Iraq,
without regard for the influence of such an operation on Kurdish nationalism.
In northern Iraq an Islamist Kurdish opposition to Iraq's Kurdish leaders
Massoud Barzani and Jalal Talabani is emerging, the report observed. "These
Kurdish elitists that pose a threat, particularly to Barzani's throne, are
forcing him to adopt a nationalist discourse," observed the report.
According to UPSAM a military operation in northern Iraq would create the risk
of bringing Kurds in the region against the Turkish army, which could in turn
easily become a milestone in the history of Kurdish nationalism. "The issue is
well beyond being a security problem. It is a problem of the future," the report
said.
The report strongly emphasized that Turkey should not allow a return of martial
law -- known as OHAL (Emergency Rule Region) -- to any cities of the Southeast,
no matter what the circumstances might be.
Highlights of the report:
* Decisions regarding northern Iraq should be openly shared with the general
public;
* A relationship of confidence and trust between the US and Iraq's neighbors
should be firmly established;
* If Turkey has to decide on an incursion, explaining this to the international
arena and particularly to our Kurdish citizens in a proper manner is necessary.
It should be made very clear that the operation is not being conducted against
the Kurdish nation; and
* An operation might lead to a Turco-Kurdish conflict if there are provocations,
particularly in bigger cities. Authorities should be alert at all times about
this possibility.
