Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA2038
2007-08-09 14:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY: KURDISH POLITICAL PARTY ENTERS PARLIAMENT
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002038
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PTER OSCE TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: KURDISH POLITICAL PARTY ENTERS PARLIAMENT
WITH HIGH HOPES
REF: A. ADANA 78
B. ANKARA 965
C. ANKARA 1781
Classified By: Charge Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4(b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002038
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PTER OSCE TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: KURDISH POLITICAL PARTY ENTERS PARLIAMENT
WITH HIGH HOPES
REF: A. ADANA 78
B. ANKARA 965
C. ANKARA 1781
Classified By: Charge Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4(b),(d)
1.(U) This is a joint Embassy Ankara-Consulate Adana cable.
2.(C) Summary: The newly elected pro-Kurdish Democratic
Society Party (DTP) MP's are signaling publicly their
determination to work constructively in parliament. DTP
leader Ahmet Turk's August 4 handshake with nationalist party
head Devlet Bahceli set a positive tone. However, DTP faces
significant complications given parliament's contentious
agenda and DTP's perceived links to the terrorist Kurdistan
Workers' Party (PKK). While DTP and the ruling Justice and
Development Party (AKP) share the goals of constitutional
reform and improved conditions for Turkey's Kurds, AKP will
likely keep its distance from DTP, whose members have so far
refused to publicly condemn the PKK as a terrorist
organization. End summary.
--------------
A New Era in Kurdish Politics
--------------
3.(C) DTP's 21 candidates banded together to form the first
Kurdish parliamentary block since 1991, circumventing the ten
percent election threshold by running as independents. Vice
Chair Selma Irmak told us the party is determined to use this
opportunity wisely. She assured us DTP remains open to
dialogue with all parties and will promote "brotherhood" in
Parliament. DTP has evolved and is more mature than it was
in 1994, when pro-Kurdish MPs were expelled from Parliament
and arrested for taking their oaths in Kurdish and wearing
PKK colors, she explained. Turkey has also become more
tolerant since that era, when open discussion of the Kurdish
problem was taboo. DTP MP Sirri Sakik echoed Irmak in
comments to the press, noting that it will be the ruling
AKP's job to establish consensus and compromise in parliament.
--------------
Looking for Partners
--------------
4.(C) DTP's top goal is enacting a new constitution that
lessens military influence and expands cultural freedoms,
according to contacts. They will likely look to AKP for
support. AKP, which made impressive headway with voters in
DTP strongholds, also supports constitutional reform but may
be wary of allying with DTP, given DTP's PKK taint. Siyar
Ozsoy, an aide to DTP Diyarbakir mayor Osman Baydemir, was
upbeat about near-term cooperation on constitutional reform,
but predicted that eventually DTP and AKP agendas will
diverge. Currently, DTP and AKP seem like "natural
partners", he said; AKP can translate its strong mandate into
wide-ranging changes, possibly even a new constitution,
provided it manages the politics adroitly. After 3-4 months,
this power is likely to dissipate and priorities will shift.
The Kurdish community's ultimate objective of legal
recognition of its separate identity and freer use of Kurdish
language and culture is likely to hit resistence from the
nationalist MHP and Republican People's Party (CHP) MPs,
setting the scene for contentious parliamentary debates.
5.(C) AKP also shares DTP's goal of improving the economic
status of Turkey's Kurds but, again, may differ on approach.
The single biggest gesture AKP could make, Ozsoy said, is to
improve relations with the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG)
in northern Iraq, a move the GOT has regarded cautiously.
Though conditions are not yet right for negotiations between
the GOT and the DTP on the Kurdish issue, Ozsoy said that
improved GOT-KRG relations would be a good first step.
--------------
Who's calling the Shots?
--------------
6.(C) Many Turks are convinced the PKK controls DTP deputies.
Former Human Rights Association President Yusuf Alatas told
us that, while DTP MPs are clearly trying to project a
moderate image, the party is still ultimately beholden to the
PKK. Diyarbakir Bar Association President Sezgin Tanrikoglu,
who had applied to run as a DTP-endorsed independent
ANKARA 00002038 002 OF 002
candidate, concurred that DTP remains in the PKK's
&Stalinist8 grip. &Based on my discussions about my
candidacy,8 he said, &it was clear they did not want
independent thinkers in their group. They wanted obedient
servants.8 Tanrikoglu decided not to run.
7.(C) While Irmak denied a DTP-PKK link, she said the party
would not denounce the PKK as a terrorist organization.
Numerous DTP representatives have told us that the party is
eager to serve as a go-between for the GOT and the PKK to
develop a settlement to include PKK disarmament, amnesty for
PKK fighters and political reforms granting additional rights
to Turkey's Kurds. PM Erdogan has conditioned AKP outreach
on DTP declaring the PKK a terrorist organization, a
prerequisite his deputy chief of staff Yunus Emre
Karaosmanoglu reiterated to us privately.
--------------
Opposition Remains Wary
--------------
8.(C) Opposition MPs remain suspicious, if not indignant.
CHP members Onur Oymen and Ilhan Kesici refer to DTP as the
"PKK representatives" and the "terrorist representatives."
The MHP has signaled readiness to work constructively with
DTP MPs, but remains skeptical. Bahceli confidant and MHP
theoretician Riza Ayhan called the DTP deputies "PKKers" in
our meeting. He expects DTP to behave moderately in
parliament but to continue pushing their hardline agenda with
their grassroots. Beypazari MHP Mayor Mansur Yavas told us
his party will work with DTP MPs, but only if they leave
behind inflammatory rhetoric and controversial proposals such
as dividing up the country into federal regions (which is not
official DTP policy).
--------------
Comment
--------------
9.(C) DTP's return to parliament may persuade alienated Kurds
that non-violent avenues are available to achieve their
goals. They are off to a harmonious start, but DTP MPs will
need to demonstrate autonomy, compromise and flexibility to
gain trust. And, as PKK violence inevitably continues, DTP
deputies will likely be forced to take sides -- a choice that
could establish their political courage or lead to their
expulsion and arrest.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
MCELDOWNEY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PTER OSCE TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: KURDISH POLITICAL PARTY ENTERS PARLIAMENT
WITH HIGH HOPES
REF: A. ADANA 78
B. ANKARA 965
C. ANKARA 1781
Classified By: Charge Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4(b),(d)
1.(U) This is a joint Embassy Ankara-Consulate Adana cable.
2.(C) Summary: The newly elected pro-Kurdish Democratic
Society Party (DTP) MP's are signaling publicly their
determination to work constructively in parliament. DTP
leader Ahmet Turk's August 4 handshake with nationalist party
head Devlet Bahceli set a positive tone. However, DTP faces
significant complications given parliament's contentious
agenda and DTP's perceived links to the terrorist Kurdistan
Workers' Party (PKK). While DTP and the ruling Justice and
Development Party (AKP) share the goals of constitutional
reform and improved conditions for Turkey's Kurds, AKP will
likely keep its distance from DTP, whose members have so far
refused to publicly condemn the PKK as a terrorist
organization. End summary.
--------------
A New Era in Kurdish Politics
--------------
3.(C) DTP's 21 candidates banded together to form the first
Kurdish parliamentary block since 1991, circumventing the ten
percent election threshold by running as independents. Vice
Chair Selma Irmak told us the party is determined to use this
opportunity wisely. She assured us DTP remains open to
dialogue with all parties and will promote "brotherhood" in
Parliament. DTP has evolved and is more mature than it was
in 1994, when pro-Kurdish MPs were expelled from Parliament
and arrested for taking their oaths in Kurdish and wearing
PKK colors, she explained. Turkey has also become more
tolerant since that era, when open discussion of the Kurdish
problem was taboo. DTP MP Sirri Sakik echoed Irmak in
comments to the press, noting that it will be the ruling
AKP's job to establish consensus and compromise in parliament.
--------------
Looking for Partners
--------------
4.(C) DTP's top goal is enacting a new constitution that
lessens military influence and expands cultural freedoms,
according to contacts. They will likely look to AKP for
support. AKP, which made impressive headway with voters in
DTP strongholds, also supports constitutional reform but may
be wary of allying with DTP, given DTP's PKK taint. Siyar
Ozsoy, an aide to DTP Diyarbakir mayor Osman Baydemir, was
upbeat about near-term cooperation on constitutional reform,
but predicted that eventually DTP and AKP agendas will
diverge. Currently, DTP and AKP seem like "natural
partners", he said; AKP can translate its strong mandate into
wide-ranging changes, possibly even a new constitution,
provided it manages the politics adroitly. After 3-4 months,
this power is likely to dissipate and priorities will shift.
The Kurdish community's ultimate objective of legal
recognition of its separate identity and freer use of Kurdish
language and culture is likely to hit resistence from the
nationalist MHP and Republican People's Party (CHP) MPs,
setting the scene for contentious parliamentary debates.
5.(C) AKP also shares DTP's goal of improving the economic
status of Turkey's Kurds but, again, may differ on approach.
The single biggest gesture AKP could make, Ozsoy said, is to
improve relations with the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG)
in northern Iraq, a move the GOT has regarded cautiously.
Though conditions are not yet right for negotiations between
the GOT and the DTP on the Kurdish issue, Ozsoy said that
improved GOT-KRG relations would be a good first step.
--------------
Who's calling the Shots?
--------------
6.(C) Many Turks are convinced the PKK controls DTP deputies.
Former Human Rights Association President Yusuf Alatas told
us that, while DTP MPs are clearly trying to project a
moderate image, the party is still ultimately beholden to the
PKK. Diyarbakir Bar Association President Sezgin Tanrikoglu,
who had applied to run as a DTP-endorsed independent
ANKARA 00002038 002 OF 002
candidate, concurred that DTP remains in the PKK's
&Stalinist8 grip. &Based on my discussions about my
candidacy,8 he said, &it was clear they did not want
independent thinkers in their group. They wanted obedient
servants.8 Tanrikoglu decided not to run.
7.(C) While Irmak denied a DTP-PKK link, she said the party
would not denounce the PKK as a terrorist organization.
Numerous DTP representatives have told us that the party is
eager to serve as a go-between for the GOT and the PKK to
develop a settlement to include PKK disarmament, amnesty for
PKK fighters and political reforms granting additional rights
to Turkey's Kurds. PM Erdogan has conditioned AKP outreach
on DTP declaring the PKK a terrorist organization, a
prerequisite his deputy chief of staff Yunus Emre
Karaosmanoglu reiterated to us privately.
--------------
Opposition Remains Wary
--------------
8.(C) Opposition MPs remain suspicious, if not indignant.
CHP members Onur Oymen and Ilhan Kesici refer to DTP as the
"PKK representatives" and the "terrorist representatives."
The MHP has signaled readiness to work constructively with
DTP MPs, but remains skeptical. Bahceli confidant and MHP
theoretician Riza Ayhan called the DTP deputies "PKKers" in
our meeting. He expects DTP to behave moderately in
parliament but to continue pushing their hardline agenda with
their grassroots. Beypazari MHP Mayor Mansur Yavas told us
his party will work with DTP MPs, but only if they leave
behind inflammatory rhetoric and controversial proposals such
as dividing up the country into federal regions (which is not
official DTP policy).
--------------
Comment
--------------
9.(C) DTP's return to parliament may persuade alienated Kurds
that non-violent avenues are available to achieve their
goals. They are off to a harmonious start, but DTP MPs will
need to demonstrate autonomy, compromise and flexibility to
gain trust. And, as PKK violence inevitably continues, DTP
deputies will likely be forced to take sides -- a choice that
could establish their political courage or lead to their
expulsion and arrest.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
MCELDOWNEY