Hugh Pope, what should Erdoğan do over the short-term to solve this problem?

He should question the article in the constitution addressing the state’s language, and acknowledge Kurdish. Then he should amend the law on terrorism, since the definition of terrorism is too broad. Too many people have ended up in prison without having done anything except create associations and peacefully carry out their battles. There are currently over ten thousand people in prison for these reasons, and very many of them belong to the most important Kurdish political party. This is unacceptable in the 21st century. It is discrimination based on language, and it must change.

What mistakes is Erdoğan making?

The AKP’s problem is that it is trying to beat the Kurds using military options and only reacting to the PKK’s military escalation.

But there is a new constitution in the works. How important will it be for the future of the Kurds?

This is a critical point. Of course any improvement to their living conditions is welcome, but to resolve the issue Erdoğan must explain what the real problem is to the Turkish public. He must stop sweeping dust under carpets. One cannot forbid people in Turkey from speaking their own language. But this is not easy. The nationalist backdrop in Turkish education, added to propaganda, prevents people from having the means for understanding what the point is with the Kurds. This is why Erdoğan – who is very popular – must make society understand what the real reason for the conflict is, trying to give Turkey a constitution it can be proud of and one that can become a model for the entire region.

After the attack that killed 24 Turkish soldiers on October 9th, the PKK is back on the front pages of newspapers, which had not happened for a long time. In your opinion, is the PKK stronger or weaker than in the past?

It is becoming weaker, and that is why it attacks. In the past there were only two players involved, the PKK and the Turkish army. Over the last ten years instead a middle land has developed between them, with its own civil society, entrepreneurs, and legal political parties. This has resulted in a part of society that is neither pro-Kurdish nor pro-Turkey, but that reflects and ponders its judgments. This has created a positive atmosphere also in cities such as Diyarbakır [Editor’s Note: “capital of the Kurdish region”]. This what bothers the PKK and makes it weaker.

So the Kurdish separatists have their backs to the wall?

Yes, and they are in fact attempting to take Turkey back to the Eighties, so as to change the direction matters have taken. Hence, I do not know whether the PKK is militarily weaker, but it is certainly politically weaker. It no longer has the support of international public opinion, it has lost ground everywhere in Europe (it only has supporters in Germany). Ten years ago the PKK would never have been declared a terrorist organization. It would have been supported by European civil society. Ocalan himself was a man who brought people together in the past, not to mention the fact that guerrilla fighters had far greater freedom of movement in northern Iraq. Things have changed even Iran is now much harsher in attacking the Kurdish Iraqi terrorist organization, the PJAK. One can definitely say that the PKK is really under pressure.

If the PKK is weaker than in the past, and if in the meantime part of society is prepared to discuss the issue involving the Kurdish identity, does this not mean that the Turkish Republic is provided with a historical opportunity to resolve the Kurdish issue with the new constitution?

Yes, it is an opportunity, but it is one the government must seize, and it is not said that it will do so. And then the fact that the PKK is weaker does not mean it can be ignored. The PKK still enjoys the support of half the Kurdish population. It is weaker than it used to be, but no Turkish government can militarily defeat the PKK. Look at the numbers. Since the June elections terrorists have killed 115 Turkish soldiers and police officers. That is an enormous number. This spiral of violence makes it seriously difficult to defeat Kurdish guerrillas just using military force.

Translated by Francesca Simmons