Talabani: PKK should see the truth

"In 2009 pleasing developments will take place regarding the Kurdish issue," he said.

I, too, was curious.

What did the president mean?

The other day a small group of journalists understood what he meant when he was talking to Iraqi President Jalal Talabani.

It is understood that Turkey is preparing to enter a new relationship arrangement with Baghdad and Arbil, meaning it is preparing for a "development" regionally or in relations between the two countries, whichever is necessary. Talabani with his usual cheer and humor has reflected these developments in such a colorful way that it became very apparent what Gül meant by "pleasing developments."

Let’s first start with a road map.

Most important step: Gül’s visit to Baghdad

President Gül will leave for a formal state visit to Baghdad next week, after postponing a previous trip because of discomfort in his ear.

Talabani, while talking about this visit, said: "It is from our point of view very important. Turkey, in this way, will show its support of the new government."

I realized that the man in front of me was not the former Kurdish opposition leader but a wise man talking from his experience accumulated over the years.

"The PKK is still living in the past. It does not completely comprehend that the problem cannot be solved with weapons. Some among the organization do comprehend it but some are still in favor of weapons. Problems are solved with politics now. If the PKK puts down its weapons, it will be able to solve the problems of its people more easily," he said. During our conversation, the Iraqi president drew attention to the period of time in front of us.

At the end of this period, with an extremely close method of economic and political cooperation between Turkey and Iraq, the PKK factor will be reduced to a point of "bearable" and, more importantly, relations between Ankara and Arbil will be put on track.

This is a long process. It requires mutually sensitive politics and brave steps. In this respect Gül’s Baghdad visit is important. It will strengthen relations between Baghdad and Ankara. Thereafter the next giant step will be taken: the Kurd Conference.

The regional administration in northern Iraq will take a never-before-seen step.

It will gather all Kurdish origin parties in a giant conference. At the end of April and during May, all Kurdish parties will come together in Arbil and appeal to the PKK to put down its weapons.

It is not certain who will attend this conference. But this much I can say: Any party that will confirm the appeal to the PKK to put down its weapons is welcome to the conference.

The DTP, even the PKK if it joins, needs to accept this prerequisite in advance.

This counts as a historical step.

As you might guess, it is not easy. For, it is difficult to find a society like the Kurds that is split among itself.

Talabani and the leader of the regional administration in northern Iraq Masoud Barzani need to spend much effort. Once they manage it Ankara needs to make a move and take some steps regarding the Kurdish issue. There has been mention of "pardoning" without explicitly saying "pardoning" and about reforms that would lead to preserving the Kurdish identity.

Talabani is hopeful as always. Even though it is difficult, he believes that the PKK will be excluded. He said, "If the PKK will not obey the ’put down weapon’ declared during this conference, then we will increase pressure." Truly, for the PKK it is time to make a decision. The problem is that this organization is not led by a single headquarter. The most effective one is İmralı but the ones in the mountains are split.

In order to continue the process smoothly there will be visits to Ankara by Barzani and Neçirvan Barzani, prime minister of the regional administration in northern Iraq, after the conference in May. The exact dates are not set yet, but they are important because of their symbolic meaning.

Those are the developments meant by President Gül when he said "pleasing developments will take place in 2009."