No answer being given to Ozkok's Iraq question

by: Mehmat Ali Birand

Mehmet Ali Birand is one of Turkey’s most famous journalists. He wrote this article today on his regular column in the Turkish daily Posta.

Mehmet Ali Birand's article is translated by TDN staff

Oct 19, 2002

Hurriyet editor-in-chief Ertugrul Ozkok asked an extremely important question in his column last Wednesday.

The question was, "Why is Turkey opposing the establishment of an independent Kurdish state in Northern Iraq?"

Asking a question of this kind takes a lot of courage at a time the collective hysteria, the threats such as "We would start a war! We would hit and crush," have reached a peak. Ozkok has bravely put forth that question.

Not counting certain groundless claims that have been made, no one has given a proper answer to that question.

Would Turkey be split up if a Kurdish state got to be founded in Northern Iraq under Turkey's control, that is, under Turkey's umbrella, a Kurdish state that would have friendly relations with Ankara? What kind of harm would that cause Turkey?

* If Turkey attempts -- especially by invading Northern Iraq by using military force -- to prevent the establishment of a Kurdish state, Turkey will have made the biggest mistake in its history.

If we did that, we would be creating an enemy on our doorstep.

Such a move may prevent formation of a Kurdish state in the region in the short run. However, in the long run, that would turn Turkey into "a force against whom one has to fight in order to attain Kurdish independence."

That, in turn, would make all of us uneasy -- both in Turkey and in the region.

* A Kurdish state to be established in Northern Iraq cannot encourage the separatist forces in Turkey provided that Turkey cultivates friendly relations with that state.

Let us not forget that Northern Iraq has access to the West via Turkey. Its economy can flourished if it gets "fed" by Turkey.

Separatist forces would definitely appear on the stage. They would definitely want to take Northern Iraq as an example. However, a Turkey that has good relations with the Kurds in the region would find it much more easier to keep those separatist movements under control.

To sum up, Turkey may not encourage establishment of a Kurdish state in Northern Iraq. However, it must not use force to prevent it. If Turkey fails to prevent establishment of such a state, Turkey should support and protect it rather than turning it into an enemy. That would be more in line with Turkey's long-term interests.