"Öcalan Can Stop Fighting, But Expectations Must Be Realistic"

Ayhan Bilgen, a spokesperson for the Turkey Peace Parliament and an editor at the Günlük newspaper, believes that the "road map" advocated by imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan may be an important starting point.

Road map to be announced

Öcalan has said that he is preparing a road map for the solution of the Kurdish question, and that he will announce it in August. Meanwhile, the armed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has extended its unilateral ceasefire from 15 July to 1 September, reportedly in order to allow for the development of conditions for the road map.

Bilgen said that Öcalan could provide a contribution to a stop in fighting, necessary for the start of a peace process. He added that it needed to be a realistic programme which would strengthen society's belief in a solution.

At the same time, the closure case still continuing against the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) which is represented in parliament may create havoc.

For a peace process to be initiated successfully, Bilgen believes that "all parts of society need to learn lessons from the pain they have experienced" and put forward a realisable project.

Be realistic

Bilgen further warned of expectations to be one-sided or too high. "People should not expect these projects to solve problems that have been festering for years as if with a magic wand." Thus, Öcalan's initiative can only be evaluated as a first step, which is important symbolically.

The journalist pointed out that expectations that PKK members would lay down arms and surrender have never been fulfilled. In the short term, so Bilgen, it would not be realistic to expect direct and open negotiations with the PKK. Rather, political actors can be used or secret meetings organised until the political environment is prepared for other steps.

Bilgen further warned that current favourable conditions would not be given next year. (TK/AG)