Kurdish-Turkish peace initiatives 1991-2004

Kurdish-Turkish peace initiatives, there were several, since the conflict with the Kurdistan Workers' Party began in 1978. Some where successful, others not. But the first real approach to the Kurdish question in Turkey came after the Government of Turgut Özal decided to end the policy of denial of the Kurds and allow the Kurdish language to be spoken in 1991[1] and later on in the same year also to be broadcast.[2]

First unilateral ceasefire by the PKK 1993

On the 17 March 1993, Abdullah Öcalan announced a unilateral ceasefire by the PKK in a press conference given together with Jalal Talabani. In an other press conference which took place on the 16 April 1993 in Bar Elias, Lebanon, the ceasefire was prolonged indefinitely. To this event, the Kurdish politicians Jamal Talabani, Ahmet Türk from the HEP and Kemal Burkay also attended and declared their support for the ceasefire.[3] The ceasefire came to an end after prime minister Turgut Özal, who's Government had a more peaceful approach towards the Kurds as the former Governments, died two days later on the 17 April 1993[4][5] and after Turkish troops launched an attack on the 19 May 1993, where 13 members of the PKK were killed. [6]

Second unilateral ceasefire by the PKK 1995–1996

In December 1995, the PKK announced a second unilateral ceasefire ahead of the Turkish general elections on 24 December 1995, which thought to give the new Turkish Government time to articulate a more peaceful approach to the conflict between the PKK and Turkey. In the eight months in which the ceasefire was upheld by the PKK, several peace initiatives were initiated by the civil and political society.[6]

Third unilateral ceasefire by the PKK 1998–2004

On the 1 September 1998, the PKK announced an other unilateral ceasefire, which was announced in purpose to find a political solution to the conflict.[7] Following the ceasefire announcement, Turkey threatened Syria with a military confrontation if it kept up its support for the PKK. Following which Öcalan was expelled from Syria and departed for Europe on the 9 October 1998. Then the Adana Accord was agreed upon, which prohibited Syria from supporting the PKK.[8] In Europe, Öcalan tried to reach out to several countries in search for their assistance in potential peace negotiations, but all attempts failed and he was captured by Turkish special forces on the 15 February 1999 in Nairobi, Kenya and brought to Turkey, where he renewed his proposal for peace negotiations.[9] In 1999 the PKK announced that they would leave their bases in Turkey, and would follow Öcalans bid for an end of armed conflict.[7] In 2004 the cease fire called out in 1998 ended and fighting began again.[10]

Peace initiatives by the civil and political society

The Helsinki Citizens' Assembly organized a conference in January 1995 in Istanbul, where the Kurdish-Turkish conflict was discussed extensively. The outcome of the conference encouraged the HCA to organize a statewide campaign for peace in numerous cities in order to facilitate a solution to the conflict.[11] In February 1996 a conference called The Kurdish Problem and the Democratic Solution Symposium was organized by the Kurdish Institute in Istanbul. A second conference called Gathering for Peace appealed to the Turkish Government to act cooperatively to the ceasefire announced by the PKK in December 1995.[11] The Turkish Human Rights Organization called for participation in a campaign[6] called the Musa Anter Peace Train, a train which started on the 26 August in Brussels and after stopping in several cities throughout the country entered Diyarbakır on the 1 September [12]where it was welcomed by 20'000 people.[6] An other initiative was initiated in October 1996 by the left wing Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP). A campaign called 1 Million signatures for peace (Turkish: Baris için 1 milyon imza) was called for and its signatures were eventually delivered to the Turkish parliament in May 1997.[13]

See also

2013–2015 PKK–Turkish peace process

References
  1. "Obituary: Turgut Ozal". The Independent. 1993-04-19. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  2. Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "Refworld | The Situation of the Kurds". Refworld. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  3. Özcan, Ali Kemal (2006). Turkey's Kurds: A Theoretical Analysis of the PKK and Abdullah Ocalan. Routledge. p. 205. ISBN 9780415366878.CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  4. Cowell, Alan (1993-04-18). "Turgut Ozal, 66, Dies in Ankara; Pugnacious President of Turkey". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  5. Guler, Funja. "Turkey files charge over president's death". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  6. Gunes, Cengiz (2013-01-11). The Kurdish National Movement in Turkey: From Protest to Resistance. Routledge. p. 134. ISBN 978-1-136-58798-6.
  7. Morris, Chris (1999-08-06). "PKK offers to end war in Turkey". the Guardian. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  8. "Why is the 1998 Adana pact between Turkey and Syria back in the news?". Arab News. 2019-01-25. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  9. Entessar, Nader (2010). Kurdish Politics in the Middle East. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 145. ISBN 978-0-7391-4039-0.
  10. "TURKEY: THE PKK AND A KURDISH SETTLEMENT" (PDF). ETH Zurich. International Crisi Group. p. 1. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  11. Kirisci, Kemal; Winrow, Gareth M. (2013-11-05). The Kurdish Question and Turkey: An Example of a Trans-state Ethnic Conflict. Routledge. p. 150. ISBN 978-1-135-21770-9.
  12. "MUSA ANTER PEACE TRAIN - Early Day Motions". edm.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  13. Kaynar, Mete Kaan (2020-05-24). "Barış İçin Bir Milyon İmza". Nokta Haber Yorum (in Turkish). Retrieved 2020-07-06.
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