Erdogan’s 'Now Or Never' Moment In Turkish-Kurdish Peace Process

Pressure is mounting on Turkey’s peace process, with such issues as teaching the Kurdish language in schools proving particularly important. 
Syrian Kurds practise reading the Kurdish language at a school in Derik, Al-Hasakah October 31, 2012. Iraqi Kurdish President Masoud Barzani warned Kurds in Syria against being sucked into the "fires of discord," urging them to preserve Kurdish unity as tensions between rival factions threaten to spillover into violence. Syria's Kurds see the war ravaging their country as an unprecedented opportunity to gain the kind of freedoms enjoyed by their ethnic kin in neighbouring Iraq, where they live autonomously
Syrian Kurds practice reading the Kurdish language at a school in Derik, Oct. 31, 2012. A sticking point in Turkey's peace talks with Turkish Kurds is the Kurds' desire for their students to be taught all subjects in Kurdish. - REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani
yavuzbaydar.jpg
Yavuz Baydar

Lack of mutual confidence — the missing link of the Kurdish peace process — still prevails after nine months into the talks, which are vital for Turkey’s future.

Statements in recent days from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan and the Peace Democracy Party (BDP), the political wing of the PKK, all point to potential problems in the future if this critical issue is manipulated for tactical moves.

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 for annual access.

Videos

See more