Turkey: Peace process with PKK no longer exists

[Anthea]

Turkish defense minister:
Peace process with PKK no longer exists

From the Turkish perspective, the country's peace process which ended in 2015 when Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) resumed fighting following failed negotiations for more than a year, no longer exists, Turkey's Defense Minister Fikri Işık told Rudaw on Saturday on sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Germany.

In this interview with Rudaw, he also reiterated his country's position that they do not allow the participation of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) in any Syrian peace talks, with the next round of Geneva talks fast approaching to kick off on February 23.

Can you tell us about the status of the peace process in Turkey?

Fikri Işık: The Justice and Development Party (AKP), after assuming power, took very important steps to resolve the Kurdish question in Turkey.

They brought an end to the many prohibitions the Kurds were subjected to. This was an attempt to prevent further bloodshed and create conditions under which everyone lives in peace.

The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declared a process of peace. But unfortunately the participating parties, especially the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), didn’t act responsibly towards the process.

Further, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) tried everything to sabotage the process. They used the attack on Suruç as an excuse to attack two sleeping police officers, killing them.

They ended the peace process through doing this. Hence, from Turkey’s perspective, the peace process no longer exists. Turkey’s only condition for the terrorist organization, the PKK, is to turn themselves and their weapons in.

Turkey is a participating member in the Astana Peace Talks, debating a ceasefire for Syria. What is your stance on the participation of YPG and PYD in these talks?

As you know, the PYD is an extension of the terrorist organization, the PKK, in Syria. And the PYD in no way represents the Kurdish nation in Syria. We have very good relations with our Kurdish brothers in Syria.

We share the same border with them. It’s been one thousand years that we have been living together in this area. Moreover, we also have strong relations with Kurdish brothers in northern Iraq. We have opened our doors to Syrian Kurds. But we have to say that the PYD is a terrorist organization which never believes in peace.

That is why it is unacceptable to allow the PKK to participate in a meeting held to bring about peace. Turkey in no way accepts the participation of the PYD in Astana and Geneva talks.

What is your position on the referendum which is due to be held on amending the Turkish constitution?

There is no doubt that people hold power in Turkey. We will commit to the decision of the people. If the result of the referendum is positive, then changes will be made to the governance system.

The existing system will stay if the result is negative, however. The question of the referendum is not related to the events in Syria. Turkey is a big country with an ability to resolve internal and external problems concurrently.

http://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/turkey/18022017