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Lagendijk: I don't believe in a Turkish
invasion of Kurdistan
14.2.2007
by Vladimir van Wilgenburg, is a non-Kurdish writer
from Netherlands
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Turkey and politics
February 14, 2007
The intellectual Cengiz Candar and Joost Lagendijk
discussed the political situation of Turkey. Cengiz
Candar used to be a advisor of the Turkish premier
Turgut Ozal (1927-1993), who was partly of Kurdish
descent. Joost Lagendijk criticised the CHP, because
officially they claim to be democratic/left wing,
but they are actually non-democratic, nationalist
and conservative. "Ironically the Islamic party is
the most democratic party in Turkey."
But he also spoke about fears that the AKP wants to
create a sharia-state in Turkey. This is a result of
the unclear policy of the AK-party and Joost
Lagendijk advised the AK-party to be more clear in
their policies.
Cenghiz Candar praised Joost Lagendijk's article in
the Gids. It was a brilliant description of the
Kurdish question in Turkey. According to him there
is a Kemalist elite in Turkey, that has fear for
changes and to lose their privileges, they had since
the foundation of the republic.
He also spoke about When Atatürk. "You cannot put al
the blame on Ataturk. He is the symbol of a national
revival, he is not an equivalent of evil. He was
also modern, but also a product of his own time. He
was very pro-western and pro-Europe. His role model
was Europe."
But Cengiz said the problem is today, that people
want to keep the codes of 1920 intact and that
doesn't work in this globalizing world. |
Joost Lagendijk interviewed by Kurdistan TV
Joost Lagendijk and Cengiz Candar interviewed by
Kurdistan TV |
Lagendijk agreed that some institutions are afraid
to lose power. It's the question if they fear to
loose their power or that they fear a theocracy. But
the AK-party still restricts freedom of speech to
much. Lagendijk thought it was easy to blame the EU
for changes in Turkey, while it are actually the
people who are fighting for changes within Turkey.
Enthusiasm for EU is fading away
Cengiz Candar explained that the AK-party realized
it needed the EU, otherwise they would suffocate in
an inward society. The military remains suspicious
to this party, but one shouldn't forget that the AKP
consists is a big party with very different
politicians: Islamists, nationalist and liberals.
According to him an Islamic theocracy is not the
problem or danger, it's the disappointment of the EU-attitude
towards Turkey. This sentiment is shared by all
segments in Turkey. The destiny of Turkey is
entwined with the European discourse, how the
Europeans will define themselves.
Cengiz Candar said it's not fair to blame everything
on the EU. Despite the demands of the EU. “In our
interpretation this is arrogance. This is because
the lack of necessary political culture in Turkey.
We fight against such concepts. Our
misinterpretations is due to the lack of the
necessary political culture. If we go back to the
love story: among societies many rules resemble
political relationships.”
Cengiz Candar concluded that Turkey’s accession
process will depend on how Turks will evolve and the
European Union will define themselves. It will have
to digest 70 million Muslims: A question of
redefining the EU: multi-confessional/religious
state or a more Christian religiously defined EU.
Lagendijk said that in the past the majority of
Europeans and Turks were in favour of ascension of
Turkey, but the opponents played a skilfully
political game of tennis. European opponents
declared (For instance Sarkozy) in the media that
they don't want Turkey in the European union, then
Turkish opponents say: See, they don't accept us.
Lagendijk claimed that they are actually helping
each other in this way. This is due too the rising
nationalism in Europe and Turkey. He also said that
after 9/11 there is a fear of Islam, migration and
that foreigners take over their jobs.
He predicts that in the coming years, the low level
negotiations and low reforms will continue. He
expressed his hope that each side will realize that
their future lies together.
No invasion of Kurdistan
Joost Lagendijk didn't believe in a Turkish invasion
of Iraq and said that those who wants this aren't
part of the current government. The current
government (AK) didn't have plans to invade
Iraqi-Kurdistan. He also said this would mean and
end of Turkey's ascension process.
Cengiz Candar confirmed this view. According to him
an invasion also must be accepted by America. The
Turkish population is also against a invasion,
except ultra nationalists. An invasion would only
result in more chaos. It could also create unrest
among Turkey's 25 million Kurds. It would only
result in more problems. The current general climate
in Turkey is against such a development.
In a interview on Kurdistan TV he also said that the
current relations of the Turkey with the Kurds in
Iraqi-Kurdistan are positive. He said that working
together on the political and economical level
between both governments is very important.
Candar said that there is an allergy towards the use
of the term "Kurdistan". But he believes this will
eventually fade away. He also expressed his belief
in a constitutional solution of the issue of Kerkuk.
Vladimirkurdistan.blogspot.com
** The use of the term "Kurdistan" is vigorously
rejected due to its alleged political implications
by the Republic of Turkey, which does not recognize
the existence of a "Turkish Kurdistan" Southeast
Turkey.
Others estimate as many as 40 million Kurds live in
Big Kurdistan (Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Iran, Armenia),
which covers an area as big as France, about half of
all Kurds which estimate to 20 million live in
Turkey.
The Kurdish flag flown officially in Iraqi Kurdistan but
unofficially flown by Kurds in Armenia. The flag is
banned in Iran, Syria, and Turkey where flying it is
a criminal offence"
Southeastern Turkey:
North Kurdistan (
Kurdistan-Turkey) wikipedia
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