Strengthen the Turkish - Kurdish Brotherhood
Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 11:12 pmStrengthen the Turkish - Kurdish Brotherhood
There are no two other nations that are as close to each other, that are brothers as Turks and Kurds. Religious unity as Sunnis and Alevis is a significant factor in this relationship.
During the Ottoman period, Turks and Kurds were not treated differently as parts of “the Islamic nation.” They intermarried for centuries, and mixed to such an extent that today it is not easy to determine the line that separates Turkish and Kurdish identities. In the Republican period the Turkish state has certainly committed “mistakes and sins” against its Kurdish citizens, as openly admitted by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan last summer. These “mistakes and sins” were due to policies that aimed to create a Turkish nation out of the Ottoman “nation of Islam” in line with the concept of modernism that prevailed in the founding period of the Republic. Turkey has, however, also employed many “correct and well-intentioned” policies toward its Kurdish citizens.
Every inch of Turkish soil is the land of those who consider themselves as Kurds as well as those who consider themselves Turks. Today vast majority of citizens with Kurdish origin are settled in the western regions of the country with Turkish majority. The city that is home to most number of Kurds is not Suleymaniyah, Arbil, or Baghdad, but Istanbul. The share of Kurds in Turkey’s political, economic, and cultural elites is much higher than the proportion of Kurds in Turkey’s total population. Closeness and interaction between Turks and Kurds is so deep that Kurdish nationalism in Turkey is inspired by Turkish nationalism, while many Kurds have contributed to the development of Turkish nationalism. The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) is, to an important extent, a product of the Turkish radical left. For all these reasons, efforts to draw a parallel between Turkey’s fight against the PKK and the fight between Israel and Palestinians subject to occupation and oppression simply distort the facts.
“Mistaken and sinful” policies of Turkish governments have significantly contributed to the 29 Kurdish rebellions that took place throughout the republican period. In this context, the crimes committed by the military regime of 1980 – 83 are much to blame. Turkey has, however, following the cease-fire by the PKK in 1999, recognized Kurdish identity in the context of EU reforms adopted, and has taken considerable steps towards its implementation. If the PKK provocations come to a halt, Turkey is poised to accelerate the democratization process, and the socio – economic development of the Kurdish - majority regions. Thus, Turkish or Kurdish, all reasonable and conscientious people know that Turkey’s most important problem today is the elimination of the PKK’s armed revolt. If this is to be achieved, Turkey possesses the necessary democratic framework and awareness to solve the political and economic problems it faces.
Turkish-Kurdish brotherhood is not limited to Turkey. Turkey, living in peace and democracy, is the greatest guarantee for Iraqi Kurds to live in peace and democracy. Iraqi Kurds gained their present autonomy thanks to Turkey’s support. The greatest guarantee for the Kurds of Iraq to reinforce their current autonomy is the friendship of the brother country, Turkey. The mutual interest of Turkey and the Kurds of Iraq is the Turkey - Iraq border to become a bridge for brotherhood, friendship, cooperation, and prosperity. The United States might have granted Iraqi Kurds their current freedom by toppling the Saddam dictatorship. However, the US could easily turn its back on the Kurds of Iraq if its interests call for, as witnessed by recent history. It is naive to believe that closeness to the US, which is at the focus of a growing hostility not only among Muslims, but all conscientious people of the world is to the benefit of Iraqi Kurds.
Turks and Kurds are brothers with a common fate. If they cooperate, they can help establish peace, stability, and freedom in the region. News about Turkey and Iraqi Kurds having agreed to cooperate against the PKK curse (see Sabah daily, July 30) is a light of hope for the region in its current darkness.
Edited by SAHIN ALPAY,
August 03, 2006
Source : Zaman
There are no two other nations that are as close to each other, that are brothers as Turks and Kurds. Religious unity as Sunnis and Alevis is a significant factor in this relationship.
During the Ottoman period, Turks and Kurds were not treated differently as parts of “the Islamic nation.” They intermarried for centuries, and mixed to such an extent that today it is not easy to determine the line that separates Turkish and Kurdish identities. In the Republican period the Turkish state has certainly committed “mistakes and sins” against its Kurdish citizens, as openly admitted by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan last summer. These “mistakes and sins” were due to policies that aimed to create a Turkish nation out of the Ottoman “nation of Islam” in line with the concept of modernism that prevailed in the founding period of the Republic. Turkey has, however, also employed many “correct and well-intentioned” policies toward its Kurdish citizens.
Every inch of Turkish soil is the land of those who consider themselves as Kurds as well as those who consider themselves Turks. Today vast majority of citizens with Kurdish origin are settled in the western regions of the country with Turkish majority. The city that is home to most number of Kurds is not Suleymaniyah, Arbil, or Baghdad, but Istanbul. The share of Kurds in Turkey’s political, economic, and cultural elites is much higher than the proportion of Kurds in Turkey’s total population. Closeness and interaction between Turks and Kurds is so deep that Kurdish nationalism in Turkey is inspired by Turkish nationalism, while many Kurds have contributed to the development of Turkish nationalism. The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) is, to an important extent, a product of the Turkish radical left. For all these reasons, efforts to draw a parallel between Turkey’s fight against the PKK and the fight between Israel and Palestinians subject to occupation and oppression simply distort the facts.
“Mistaken and sinful” policies of Turkish governments have significantly contributed to the 29 Kurdish rebellions that took place throughout the republican period. In this context, the crimes committed by the military regime of 1980 – 83 are much to blame. Turkey has, however, following the cease-fire by the PKK in 1999, recognized Kurdish identity in the context of EU reforms adopted, and has taken considerable steps towards its implementation. If the PKK provocations come to a halt, Turkey is poised to accelerate the democratization process, and the socio – economic development of the Kurdish - majority regions. Thus, Turkish or Kurdish, all reasonable and conscientious people know that Turkey’s most important problem today is the elimination of the PKK’s armed revolt. If this is to be achieved, Turkey possesses the necessary democratic framework and awareness to solve the political and economic problems it faces.
Turkish-Kurdish brotherhood is not limited to Turkey. Turkey, living in peace and democracy, is the greatest guarantee for Iraqi Kurds to live in peace and democracy. Iraqi Kurds gained their present autonomy thanks to Turkey’s support. The greatest guarantee for the Kurds of Iraq to reinforce their current autonomy is the friendship of the brother country, Turkey. The mutual interest of Turkey and the Kurds of Iraq is the Turkey - Iraq border to become a bridge for brotherhood, friendship, cooperation, and prosperity. The United States might have granted Iraqi Kurds their current freedom by toppling the Saddam dictatorship. However, the US could easily turn its back on the Kurds of Iraq if its interests call for, as witnessed by recent history. It is naive to believe that closeness to the US, which is at the focus of a growing hostility not only among Muslims, but all conscientious people of the world is to the benefit of Iraqi Kurds.
Turks and Kurds are brothers with a common fate. If they cooperate, they can help establish peace, stability, and freedom in the region. News about Turkey and Iraqi Kurds having agreed to cooperate against the PKK curse (see Sabah daily, July 30) is a light of hope for the region in its current darkness.
Edited by SAHIN ALPAY,
August 03, 2006
Source : Zaman
more coperration, more islamic ties...brothers and sisters 4 life 
