Başbuğ dismisses fears of split over Kurdish initiative

“I am setting it straight. A certain part of the public is concerned that the country will become divided. TV stations are discussing everything. Our citizens feel uneasy after watching TV programs. Everyone -- including members of the military and civilians -- ask me whether Turkey will become divided. I advise them not to be preoccupied as not everything discussed on TV programs should be taken seriously,” Başbuğ told reporters on Tuesday in Mardin, where he was visiting a military outpost.

The army chief said it was normal to discuss anything in democracies but advised citizens not to be overwhelmed by what is spoken about on TV programs. “They ask me whether Turkey will be divided. I ask them not to watch such programs. I advise them not to take everything being discussed seriously,” he noted. Başbuğ also voiced support for the government's ongoing efforts to settle the decades-old Kurdish question through democratic means.

“Our position in the fight against separatist terror is pretty clear. What we are saying is very clear. We clarified our position in the General Staff's message congratulating the nation on the occasion of National Victory Week. I am speaking on behalf of the Turkish Armed Forces [TSK]. No questions should linger in people's minds,” Başbuğ told reporters on Tuesday in Mardin.

Asked whether his remarks could be interpreted as support for the Kurdish initiative, Başbuğ said, “Within this framework, of course.”

In the General Staff's message, which was released on Aug. 25, Başbuğ touched on the ongoing debate over a democratization initiative recently introduced by the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), saying: “As is expressed in the third article of the Constitution of the Turkish Republic, which cannot be changed, Turkey is a single undivided state with its country and nation. Its language is Turkish. The Turkish Armed Forces supports the nation-state and the unitary state of Turkey.”

The statement was interpreted as a strong response to harsh criticism leveled by the leaders of both the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the Republican People's Party (CHP), who had said the government's recent move has not unified Turkey but rather polarized it and put the unitary structure of the state at risk.

However, Başbuğ expressed disapproval about debates concerning schooling in the Kurdish language. “I don't agree that there is a problem with education in the Kurdish language. Where do these people learn Kurdish? Where do people learn their mother tongue? From their mothers and fathers. Does anyone forbid mothers and fathers to teach Kurdish to their children?” asked Başbuğ.

He also dropped hints that the TSK is not warm to the idea of introducing a general amnesty to outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorists. “Do not be obsessed with amnesty. There are those [terrorists] who surrendered and were released under Article 221 of the Turkish Penal Code [TCK]. They may be few in number but not insignificant,” Başbuğ noted.

The article, also called the “active repentance” law, stipulates the release of terrorist organization members who turn themselves in without any punishment, as long as they have not been involved in any armed clashes with security forces or any other terrorist attacks against Turkey.

Başbuğ also welcomed the remarks of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who said they would grant amnesty to PKK members in Syria if they were to lay down their arms. The army chief stated that Assad's position would contribute to regional efforts on the fight against terror.

“The fight against terror is a process. There is no miraculous formula to instantly end terror. … Do not expect terror to end immediately. You cannot manage unless you destroy the presence of the PKK holed away in the north of Iraq,” Başbuğ added.