Printer-friendly VersionThe Kurdish Globe
Barzani says that allowing Kurds in Turkey to participate in the political process will give them incentive to not take up arms.
Speaking in Europe's Parliament, Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani reaffirmed that the Kurdish problem in Turkey cannot be solved by military means; rather, it can only be solved through peaceful dialogue. Barzani believes that if Kurds in Turkey are allowed to participate in the political process, they will not carry weapons or go to the mountains.
Moreover, Barzani believes that the Kurdish problem should be solved and fought in Parliament, not with weapons. "There is no reason to take up arms if there is a political process."
He added: "We would like our brothers in Makhmur camp [where Turkey's Kurdish refugees are living in Iraqi Kurdistan] to return to their country as well as members of the PKK [Kurdistan Workers Party]."
"Turkey not only deals with the result of the conflict as they did in the past today they address the causes of the conflict. This is an important change in the mentality and major development. Once you address the real causes and questions and try to find a solution, the PKK will have no reason to take up arms and will return to a peaceful and normal life and political process."
Barzani strongly criticized the huge hero's welcome celebration for a number of PKK rebels after they returned to their homes. "They [Turkey's Kurd] should not have done that because the peace process has just started, and until now it is a very weak process," he said.
Furthermore, he said but this should not be an excuse to stop the peace process.
Problems between Kurdistan Region and Baghdad
Barzani believes the problems between Kurdistan Region and Baghdad cannot be solved in the coming months. Regarding Iraqi oil, Barzani said: "Oil and gas belong to all the Iraqi people we have no problem with that." He added: "We don't want centralized oil and gas policy imposed on us, because it would not be fair. Revenues must be fairly shared out," he said.
Barzani believes after the Iraqi national elections scheduled in January next year, the Iraqi political map will be changed. "It is difficult to predict now, but I am sure the political map will be altered." He noted that after the national election, Kurds will remain united in Iraqi Parliament.