The government recently launched an initiative that is expected to expand freedoms for Turkey’s Kurds. The reforms, which include easing restrictions on Kurdish language and culture, are important for advancing the country’s application for membership in the European Union, which wants Ankara to meet the bloc’s human rights standards.
During a meeting with Barzani in Arbil late on Friday, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu told Barzani that “a bright joint future” is ahead of Turkey and the Iraqi Kurds if the PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by a large majority of the international community, is completely eliminated.
“Reaching that bright future is impossible so long as sisters and brothers continue killing each other. There is need to resolve the PKK issue by keeping track of it on three legs. The first leg is inside Turkey, and we will sort it out. The second leg is in northern Iraq, in the Kandil [Mountains], and here, we need your support. The third leg is in Europe, and we also expect your cooperation on this leg,” Davutoğlu told Barzani. “History can move forward if it is written by the appropriate hands. We expect your support,” Davutoğlu said.
Davutoğlu is the first Turkish foreign minister to travel to Iraq’s largely autonomous Kurdish region.
“During our difficult days, you have always been helpful to us. No harm came to us from you. We are people of the same region. I feel sad when a Turkish youth is killed. We will resolve our issues in time. We don’t embrace the line of the PKK. I congratulate democratization. They [the PKK] have two choices ahead: Either they will change themselves, or the Kurdish people will get rid of them,” Barzani told Davutoğlu.
In response, Davutoğlu underlined his government’s determination to continue its democratization efforts.
Ties between Ankara and the government of Iraq’s Kurdish region were marred for years by the presence of the PKK along the border, but relations have improved under the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government as the two sides have increased cooperation on security and expanded energy and trade deals.
Acknowledging the very existence of the Kurdish regional government, which has enjoyed de facto autonomy from Baghdad since 1991, had been taboo among Turkish politicians, mindful of reigniting Kurdish hopes of statehood on Turkish soil.
Turkey has accused Barzani of failing to stop PKK attacks, even as Iraq’s Kurdish leaders openly called on the PKK to lay down its arms.
Improving ties with Turkey has gained urgency as US forces withdraw from Iraq, leaving behind a possible security vacuum.
Arbil was the second stop in Davutoğlu’s visit to the region, with Basra being the first. Davutoğlu concluded his visit with a stop-by in Mosul on Saturday. In Basra and Mosul, Davutoğlu officially inaugurated Turkey’s consulates general, pledging to open another in Arbil.
In a speech delivered during the official inauguration of the consulate general in Mosul, which has been de facto functional since 2006, Mosul Governor Atheel al-Najafi underlined that much time had passed since they had hosted foreign ministers in the city.
Najafi voiced his appreciation of Turkey’s stance of maintaining an equal distance from all religious and ethnic groups in Iraq.
Also during the inauguration ceremony, the University of Mosul conferred an honorary doctorate on Davutoğlu, who has an academic background in political science and international relations.
Meanwhile, the Mosul governor gave two horses as a gift to Davutoğlu and Foreign Trade Minister Zafer Çağlayan, who also participated in the visit to northern Iraq.
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