Abdullah Ocalan - War and Peace in Kurdistan

Life in the Middle East is characterized and determined by numerous conflicts, many of which may appear rather strange to west ern eyes and incompatible with western ideas and western concepts of ratio and logos. This impression is also true of the Kurdish qu estion, a term that describes one of the most complex and bloody fields of conflict in the Middle East yet unresolved. However, as long as we do not discuss all dimensions of this conflict in equal measure , it will continue and even aggravate further , thus creating new and far-reaching problems. The historical, economic al and political dimensions of the Kurdish question exceed by far the A rab- I sraeli conflict, which, in contrast to the Kurdish question, enjoys the attention of the international public. K nowledge about the Kurdish conflict is limited , and because it is taking place in a central region of the M iddle E ast both with respect to demography and geostrategic importance, this deficit often results in one-sided and superficial analysis of this complex problem.

Since the settlement area of the Kurds spans the present territories of Arabs, Persians, and Turks the Kurdish question necessarily influences most of the region. A solution in one part of Kurdistan also affects other parts of Kurdistan and its neighboring countries. Conversely, the destructive approach of actors in one country may have negative effects for the solution of the Kurdish question in on e of the other countries. The rugged Kurdish landscape is practically made for armed struggle, and the Kurds have been fighting colonization or conquest by foreign powers since time immemorial. Resistance has become part of their life and culture.

At the beginning of a solution process, the conflict needs to be recognized and defined. With a view to the Kurdish question, a realistic definition of the Kurdish phenomenon is therefore important. However, this is also where much of the disagreement begins. While the Arabs call the Kurds Arabs fr om Yemen the Turks call them M ountain Turks and the Persians regard them as their ethnic relatives . It is not astonishing, therefore, that the political backdrop of the Kurdish question is marked by arguments over definitions.

The Kurdish question has not emerged out of the blue. It is the present result of a long historical process and does not have much in common with similar issues in other parts of the world. In fact, there are some fundamental peculiarities and differences. All of them need to be addressed in a solution process. Any policy building merely on apparent common ground leads to irresolvable problems. A policy targeted on a solution needs to realistically analyze the phenomenon and include both the national, political and social background and also all parties involved in the conflict. It is indispensable, therefore, to recognize the existence of the Kurdish phenomenon. This, on the other hand, is not possible without knowledge of the historical background.