Erdogan calls it a “historical opportunity” and the Öcalan for “the epoch of peace”. PKK’s message about a ceasefire is a small step forward in this fragile process.
But the risk of setbacks is great. Negotiating with terrorist PKK is controversial in Turkey. The imprisoned leader Öcalan, cult -declared by many Kurds, is demonized as a “child murderer” by Turkish media and politicians.
No hopeful climate
The last attempt at Fred collapsed in 2015 when Erdogan included an alliance with tour -backed. This time, the negotiations have been initiated by nationalist leader Devlet Bahceli. It can protect Erdogan from internal criticism.
For PKK, the challenge remains to convey what you win on a peace settlement, so that it does not appear as an unconditional capitulation.
“So many Kurds have sacrificed their lives for this struggle. What have they really died for? “, Asks a Kurdish woman I talk to in Istanbul.
Strengthen rights for Kurds in a new constitution have been spoken. But at the same time, the political climate in Turkey is everything else is hopeful. People elected Kurdish mayors have been deprived of their offices and that journalists have been arrested on a treadmill.
Lies in Erdogan’s interest
From Turkish, there is also a deep distrust that PKK is really closing down its weapons. As late as October last year, PKK performed a deadly attack on a flight defense factory in Ankara.
Most of what speaks for a peace is that it is in Erdogan’s interest. He needs the Kurds support to continue to govern as president after the next election.
In addition, the changes in the Middle East’s balance of power have set the planets right because both Turkey and PKK want to make peace. It remains to be seen about how far it goes on the fragile road to lasting peace.