The chairman of the executive board of the Turkish-Kurdish Friendship Association, based in Arbil, Shivan Taveng emphasized that a rapprochement with Turkey is being discussed enthusiastically. Taveng said that the Kurds desire to improve their relations with the West and with Turkey because when the Shiites and Sunnis in Iraq find strong foreign support, the Kurds stand alone. At this point, Taveng asserted that, the US’s idea of commending the Kurds to Turkey is discussed a lot, and the Kurds are the best leverage for Turkey’s power in the region. 

 

 

TAVENG: There are 3 problems for Turkey that inhibit relations with Kurdistan. The situation of Kirkuk, the possible independence of the Kurds and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party problem. However, when mutual contact increased, anxiety about these problems began to decrease. High level visits in Ankara and Arbil overcame the bias. The visits of important authorities such as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmet Davutoglu, the Minister of Industry and Trade, Zafer Çaglayan, and the Minister of Internal Affairs, Beshir Atalay affected region’s opinion positively. Relations that were initiated in 1991 have been continued at the level of Kurdish party representatives. In the beginning, Turkey approached the Iraqi Kurdistan with a security perspective. When the Justice and Development Party came to power this perspective changed. The visit of Minister of Foreign Affairs Davutoglu was a turning point. In this new period security anxieties have been displaced by a perspective oriented towards politics and economics. This general perspective features our common interests and dialogue. The Kurdistan Regional Government is very decided that the Kurdistan Workers’ Party’s attacks must not be launched from Iraqi Kurdistan. The two sides must think about this subject for a long time. The sides should realize that diplomatic methods are more important than military methods. Moreover, there are numerous factors link Turkish and Kurdish societies to each other. There are linking factors, such as religion and common culture. At present, Kurdish opinion favors a rapprochement with Turkey over relations with the Arabs and Iran. Of course, there is the effect of Iraq’s internal dynamics. Shiites are supported by Iran, but Sunni-Arabs are supported by 22 Arab nations. The US will completely withdraw its troops after 2011. There will be a power vacuum. Kurds will need help in this situation. Neither Kurds nor Sunni Arabs want Iran to be strengthened. The emergence of Turkey as a moderate regional power is very important both for the US and for the Kurds. Turkey, since it is a great power, must do what’s necessary. If good steps are made, Turkish-Kurdish friendship will be consolidated.
 

 

Attitude changes have occurred on both sides. When Turkey was preparing for air operations in Iraqi Kurdistan, Nechirvan Barzani offered the hand of friendship and said that dialogue was needed. And this made a very positive impression. The inner change of Kurds is also very important. Democratization, giving Turkmens a quota, taking steps to pacify Kurds played a positive role. Global powers also had an effect on this period of change. Iraqi Kurdistan is the gateway for Turkey to the Arab world. Turkey’s steps in the direction of solving its own Kurdish problem, as it proceeds towards full EU membership, helped relations to improve. Turkey has $5 billion worth of commercial earnings annually from Iraqi Kurdistan. This number is double Turkey’s commerce with Greece. Barzani’s visit to Ankara will be a turning point for these relations. Barzani will visit Turkey in his official capacity. Opening a consulate in Arbil means de facto that Turkey recognizes the Kurdish administration. And this will accelerate the improvement of relations. Iraqi Kurdistan is Turkey’s gateway to the Arab world. Turkey wants to increase it volume of trade with Iraq to $20 billion. As is known, 60% of Turkey’s commerce with Iraq is with Iraqi Kurdistan. The Kurdistan Regional Government has shown nothing but goodwill. The biggest construction tenders were given to Turkish companies. Turkey takes the lion’s share from its investments in Iraqi Kurdistan. If Kirkuk is annexed to Iraqi Kurdistan, again Turkey will take the lion’s share from the restructuring programs. Turkey has begun to lean towards the Kurds in its new approach to the Middle East. In the past, Turkey leaned toward the Sunnis and Shiites, but it was unable to obtain the desired results. At this point, Turkey has understood the importance of the Kurds, and now, there is a common decision to cooperate. If Turkey wants regional power, its best leverage is the Kurds. After Massoud Barzani’s visit, there should be numerous new steps, such as lifting visa requirements and increasing the number of flights.

 

 

The resources of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party are in Turkey, not in Iraqi Kurdistan. Some elements of the PKK are in Kurdistan Regional Government territory, but this situation is out of the administration’s control. The Kurdish Government does its best to limit the organization. If there is no mention of the Kurds in the Turkish Constitution, there is a fear that the PKK’s problem will not be solved and violence will be reignited. Cultural rights should be guaranteed under the Constitution. The problem should be resolved in Turkey. 

Turkmens and Kurds were affected by the repressive politics during Saddam Hussein’s regime. Here, in the struggle for a more democratic government we were on the same side. But soon after 2003, especially in the disputed areas, conflict quickly erupted between Turkmens and Kurds, and on the other side, the Turkmens and Arabs got closer quickly. 

 

 

We should consider the Turkmen problem an ethnic and sectarian issue.  Most Turkmens belong to the Shiite sect, and their Shiite ideology is predominant. This situation is also true of some Kurds. One million Shiite Kurds (Faylis) live in Baghdad. They stand apart from the rest of the Kurds, since their sectarian identities are predominant. 

 

 

In reality, the Kurdish Government doesn’t ignore the Turkmens. This is very clear when we consider their rights to education. The ITF had a negative role in the past that prevented closer relations. It is not true that Turkmens are debarred from their rights. Here, they receive education in their own language. Their rights are guaranteed constitutionally, but some want to ruin this process. The relations between Turkmens and Kurds date back thousands of years. Noone said a word when Turkmens were persecuted. In fact, there wasn’t any reaction from Turkey either. In reality, both Turkmens and Kurds were persecuted in Iraq. Some are gaining favor from the nervous relations between Turkmens and Kurds. There is equal treatment for everyone under this administration, even if Kurds are predominant in it. At a certain point Turkmens left themselves out. They didn’t even vote for their own lists. The regional government’s president Barzani’s directions to suspend the minority act in the Constitution is very important. Barzani wants to see everyone with a share in the nation. On the other hand, the Kurdish Government wants to annex Kirkuk to create a dwelling place based on everyone’s common interests.

 

 

*This interview was conducted by ORSAM Middle East specialist, Oytun Orhan, and ORSAM’s editor in chief, Ogün Duru, in Arbil on May 13, 2010.