BRUSSELS - Member of the European Parliament Andreas Schieder on Saturday urged Turkey to embrace peace talks with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and called for stronger European Union engagement across Syria and the region.
Asked what Turkey should do in the next step of peace talks with the PKK, Schieder said, “The goal is very simple. Everyone has the right to a dignified life. Everyone has the right to their language and culture, because these are not temporary phenomena. The issue is about heritage, culture, literature and such things.”
The PKK on Friday held a landmark ceremonial disarmament in Sulaimani province with 30 members and commanders - divided equally between men and women - burning their weapons before heading back to their mountain hideouts. The decision to lay down arms was made following a call earlier this year by jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan for the PKK to pursue politics instead of armed conflict.
“I hope the Turkish authorities, President Erdogan, will respond to that signal,” Schieder told Rudaw’s Alla Shally on the sidelines of the EU parliament.
Schieder, who is Austrian, is a member of the Kurdish Friendship Group in the European Parliament - a group of lawmakers who support the Kurdish cause. He expressed optimism in Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s plan to work with the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party).
“Cooperation with DEM Party in my opinion is good. It should have happened sooner,” he said. “If the president of Turkey calls for these conversations, Europe must also support him and tell him, this is a good step and continue on this path.”
DEM Party has been leading negotiations between the PKK and the Turkish state to end their four-decade conflict that has killed more than 40,000 people.
On the recent violence in the Druze-majority region of southern Syria, Schieder said the EU must take a stance.
“The situation of Druze and other minorities like Christians in Syria is very bad. We certainly must have a position,” he said.
He had harsh words for the Islamist-led interim government that ousted former dictator Bashar al-Assad. “We see that a bad regime has been replaced by a worse regime. Our struggle for democracy, for human rights, for people's right to live as themselves continues. Therefore, I view Syria's current regime critically, there must be strong awareness in Europe, we must not accept this,” he said.
Fighting erupted on Sunday between Druze groups and Sunni Bedouin tribes in the southern province of Suwayda, which has been under the control of armed Druze groups since the fall of Assad’s regime in December. More than 700 people have been killed. The Syrian government on Saturday announced they have reached an agreement for a ceasefire.
A non-central form of governance is the best thing for Syria, according to Schieder who said that the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) can be an example of a model that works.
“I believe we need a joint European-American plan for that region. I want to say something. I have made many visits to Syria and Rojava. The autonomous administration regions can become the foundation of stability there. I try to convey to the international community and diplomats that one needs to work on those models to reach stability in Syria, Iran and the region,” he explained.
Minorities have repeatedly called for a non-central government, something Damascus has refused.
The following is the full transcript of the interview.
Rudaw: Mr. Schieder, thank you for being with us. My first question is, how do you see the disarmament of the PKK [Kurdistan Workers’ Party]?
Schieder: In my opinion, the step that Abdullah Ocalan has taken, after several years of imprisonment in Turkey under harsh conditions of isolation and torture, with poor health and without being able to see anyone else, despite these bad circumstances, to take such a step and express his readiness for agreement and a peaceful solution, because the Kurdish people and the future are important to him, more important than the past and the current situation - this is a strong personal characteristic. Such people are rare. In my opinion, this is a historical movement. It's noteworthy that with the ceremony of laying down arms and burning weapons, the PKK gave a signal, a signal of agreement and showed that fighting is not important, but Kurdish life and peace are important. The issue is that life that everyone wants, that life that every young person aims for, like studying for their future. But a life with Kurdish culture and recognition of that culture.
I hope the Turkish authorities, President Erdogan, will respond to that signal. This should not become a sign of weakness, but should become a sign that he is a merciful person and, as has appeared in many Turkish movements, is not a dictator. I hope this work will be done to solve the Kurdish issue.
Of course, that is the dream of millions of Kurds as well. I want to know if you saw the PKK disarmament ceremony and what did the footage mean to you?
I have made many visits to Kurdish regions, in Iraq, Turkey, and Iran. I have had many conversations and negotiations with Kurds. Undoubtedly, one meets many fighters at those times and sees the image of intelligent female fighters as well.
Seeing these scenes, it is indeed a heartening step. Perhaps those images, that step, will rewrite history. As always, when one is in the middle of the process, one doesn't feel it's a historical step. After weeks and months pass, one knows that this was a historical step. The opportunity is at hand. In my opinion, this was a strong signal from them, that they announced they are ready to work peacefully for a peaceful future. There must be a response to those extended hands.
What needs to be done in Turkey now regarding the Kurdish issue and sustainable safety in Turkey?
The goal is very simple - everyone has the right to a dignified life. Everyone has the right to their language and culture, because these are not temporary phenomena. The issue is about heritage, culture, literature and such things.
What can Europe do for it to be successful?
Simple things often come with difficulty. One needs to agree with each other on important steps. I believe Europe can play a role, for example by telling Turkish institutions that you too need to participate in this process. But unfortunately, Turkey is going toward a different path, as has often happened in history. When Abdullah Ocalan was imprisoned, many thought and said "well, it's not my problem. He's just a revolutionary leader who supports armed resistance. It's not my concern.” After that, many other Kurds, like mayors, were imprisoned. Again many said, “it's not my problem, I'm not Kurdish.” Now some other politicians belonging to CHP, many journalists and artists, now the issue relates to people's daily lives. The time has come to stand up for human rights. Europe must also participate in the front line and tell Turkey: dear allies, we want good relations and good economic relations with you, but we demand human rights and respect for freedom of journalism, politics and art. Also start national negotiations with the Kurds.
I would like to know what role the EU can play to support the process?
Kaja Kallas, the high representative, has these conversations. But in reality it's very easy. Through a phone call you can tell Erdogan, we want the situation to calm down. I'm not sure whether those steps are implemented in that way, but if I were in that role, I would do that.
And what can you do?
I am a member of the Kurdish Friendship Group of parliamentarians in the European Parliament, meaning a group of parliamentarians who care about the Kurdish issue, without ourselves being Kurdish. We published a statement today and are trying to increase pressure. In the European Parliament too, we try to discuss this issue specifically with the high representative and officials of all departments. The Kurdish issue in Turkey has the same importance as the Kurdish issue in Iraq and Iran. Unfortunately, the news lately has been somewhat strange and unpleasant.
The Turkish president has said they will start taking new steps to change the constitution so that they can work with the Kurdish DEM Party. How do you see this support?
I am not an expert on Turkey's domestic politics. In our opinion, it's not a decent party, the question is what the alliance between AKP and right-wing parties looks like.
But he now wants to work with the DEM Party.
Cooperation with HDP in my opinion is good. It should have happened sooner, it didn't need to be banned. I also believe the constitutional issue is connected to the agreement. Most importantly, taking further steps. If the president of Turkey calls for these conversations, Europe must also support him and tell him, this is a good step and continue on this path.
What is your message to the PKK?
Fortunately I am a friend of the Kurdish people and someone who evaluates all movements of Turks and PKK positively. I am not an advisor, but in my opinion it's a difficult decision. I believe burning weapons was an important step and was viewed positively. Many people had doubts, but that step was taken. I hope the PKK and other Kurdish organizations will continue on this.
I have some questions on Syria as well. As you know, the Syrian government has mass murdered and humiliated the Druze once again. Will you work on this in the [EU] parliament?
The situation of Druze and other minorities like Christians in Syria is very bad. We certainly must have a position. I try to get more information. I have good acquaintances who are people of the region and have relatives there, they certainly send us information. Certainly these days we express our position. Because this brutal oppression and genocide of Druze, which we have seen in the past ten years, is something unfamiliar. There is certainly a connection. The situation in the Middle East is very different. Therefore there is important guidance. That region needs peace and stability. There should be no oppression and violence against any religious and ethnic group and they should never be subjected to genocide.
Now the Kurds are saying, after the mass killing of the Alawites and the Druze, they will come for us as well. Is this fear plausible?
That danger is very frightening. All lives are equally valuable, it doesn't matter where a person is from. Awareness must also be very strong. We evaluated Syria's developments sensitively, but now we see that a bad regime has been replaced by a worse regime. Our struggle for democracy, for human rights, for people's right to live as themselves continues. Therefore, I view Syria's current regime critically. There must be strong awareness in Europe, we must not accept this.
A few days ago the Syrian foreign minister was here and met the high representative of the EU. What role can Europe play now?
I hope all those issues were discussed, because the situation of Alawites was also in the program. I always support dialogue, but in conversations the truths must be told. I hope the high representative will express a position after these bad developments.
Israel has bombed some areas of Damascus, were you expecting this?
The situation in the Middle East is very difficult and complex. Certainly Israel has the right to defend its existence, it faces threats from Iran and Syria. But I believe continuous bombing is not a good way toward more security and stability in that region. I believe we need a joint European-American plan for that region. I want to say something. I have made many visits to Syria and Rojava. The autonomous administration regions can become the foundation of stability there. I try to convey to the international community and diplomats that one needs to work on those models to reach stability in Syria, Iran and the region.
Do these incidents not show that Syria needs a non-central authority?
A Syria with strong regions and strong autonomous administration is better than a central system. Certainly that is wiser.
