"The Kurdish problem is everybody's problem, but above all mine." With these words Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched a reform programme for the Kurdish southeastern region of the country yesterday. "We believe that the solution to all of Turkey's problems lies in more democracy and more prosperity," he said - rather than with more military repression.
Mr Erdogan spoke following last year's decision by PKK, the militant Kurdish organisation, to resume its campaign of bombings, including against tourist towns on the Aegean coast such as Kusadasi where 17-year-old Tara Whelan from Co Waterford was killed last month. He has resisted pressure from the Turkish military to pursue the PKK more vigorously, preferring a political approach. His speech was widely welcomed by Kurdish representatives. They urged him to supplement it with an economic development programme for the Kurdish region, which suffers from chronic unemployment, partly a legacy of the long war against the PKK which claimed over 35,000 lives from 1984-99.
If he can deliver on this policy Mr Erdogan would fulfil important objectives. He would deepen the accommodating approach to Kurdish demands adopted in recent years in response to pressure from the European Union that their civil and cultural rights be improved. This has resulted in substantial change for the six million Kurds and a definite swing away from the PKK and towards democratic parties. If Turkey is to maintain its ambitions to open negotiations on EU accession this autumn Mr Erdogan had little option but to take this course.
It is easier for him to do so because he needs to take full account of developments in neighbouring Iraq, where Kurds expect to consolidate their autonomy in negotiations on the constitution which are culminating this weekend. A federal Iraq is strongly resisted by the Sunnis because they argue the country would become ungovernable and they would be the losers; but if the Kurds fail to achieve substantial autonomy there they could revolt, making for a civil war with potentially grave consequences for Turkey, Iran and Syria.
Mr Erdogan's approach is therefore prudent as well as progressive. Much depends on his willingness to extend reforms already in train, including by allowing the Kurdish language to be taught in public as well as private schools and the need for a radical approach to economic development in Kurdish areas.
Much also depends on the outcome of the negotiations in Iraq this weekend, which have to be seen in their regional setting.