Skip to main content

Erdogan Doesn't Have Luxury of Suspending PKK Negotiations

Although the Gezi protests led to debate on the position of the Kurds between the government and the protesters, they helped the government to refocus on the peace process with the Kurds.
An Albanian man touches a banner with a picture of Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan during a rally in support of Erdogan in Tirana June 19, 2013. REUTERS/Arben Celi (ALBANIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - RTX10TTO
Read in 

The AKP government’s approach to Gezi Park actions that upended established political perceptions also significantly increased doubts about whether it can take the solution of the Kurdish issue to its conclusion. Blissfully, the fears of the collapse of the process did not materialize. The government opted to treat the Gezi resistance and Kurdish issue as two separate processes. At least that is how it seems at the moment.

We have to set this out from the outset: Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan —  who in addition to his provocative and divisive style of dealing with Gezi events, also endangered the Kurdish process with his approach of legitimizing violence — doesn’t have the luxury of suspending negotiations with the PKK. This is why it serves no purpose to discuss Erdogan’s sincerity and intention vis-à-vis the process.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.