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Today's Zaman, Turkey
Nov 2 2014
Real solutions needed
by GÃ`NAL KURÅ?UN
November 02, 2014, Sunday
I have asked myself this question several times: Does this government
want real solutions to the many issues Turkey has? We can ask this
question regarding a number of prominent and well-known problems, such
as the Kurdish issue, Cyprus, the Armenian genocide -- as well as
other issues we consider domestic affairs. My answer is limited to
what I see, particularly the actions and reactions of the government
to these issues.
In my opinion, the strategy this government has decided on, up until
the 2015 elections, is to not really act, but to be seen as taking all
necessary actions. At every point, they do not take the necessary
steps, but they like it to appear as if they will take steps soon. In
the Kurdish issue, we have been waiting for Godot to come for the last
three years, as very limited steps forward were taken by the
government that affect ordinary people's lives. They opened up a
Kurdish language and literature department at Mardin Artuklu
University which allows 20-25 students every year, and whenever there
has been a demand for Kurdish language education in the last three
years, they show this department as an example. If I was a Kurdish
father, I would want my children to have Turkish and English lessons
from the first grade or even before, in order to use it to earn money,
but I would also want them to attend Kurdish classes at the same level
in order to know their culture and mother tongue. This issue, to which
the real solution would not be the end of the world, still remains
unsolved. Kurdish language education will not divide Turkey, and it
has no relationship to unity in the country, but the government has
shown no signs of positive steps recently, which leads to harsh
criticism and sometimes wild protests.
In Cyprus, where we were expecting several steps from both sides, an
energy crisis occurred, and we are at a point where it looks as if it
is not strategic for either side to come to a solution. Sometimes
problems help to fortify the positions of the two sides, as no real
solutions are needed in order to save the day. Why should the Greek
part unite with the poor north, as they have become an EU member
already? Why should the Turkish side beg the Greeks, since they can
enjoy power, even if it is isolated? If the solution is not strategic
and beneficial for the day, both sides may choose not to solve it.
The Armenian genocide issue is another pathetic problem for Turkey to
confront. During football diplomacy days, we were very optimistic
about a possible solution, particularly on giving up the denial policy
and sending apologies and condolences. I'm not so sure that everybody
supports this solution in Turkey for today, after 100 years of the
denial policy. If the border opens with Armenia, if the limited
diplomatic pressure on Turkey is removed, will it be that beneficial,
if it means losing nationalist votes? We come upon another game theory
at this stage, which deserves another column from me in the coming
days.
On the control of mines, the Justice and Development Party (AKP)
government enacted an important law, namely Law No. 6331, the Work
Health and Security Law, in 2012. Most of the vital provisions of this
law are postponed until 2016. They've made a specific regulation on
safety in mines, which was published on Sept. 24, to enter into force
after one year. In 2014, up until today, we've lost more than 400
workers in accidents in mines which have poor safety conditions.
Statistically, there were 27,374 mine inspections made by state
officials in 2005, whereas there were only 8,854 inspections in 2013.
There were 54 closures and TL 379,000 in fines for mines that didn't
fulfill the requirements of the mining law (Law No. 3213), whereas we
see seven closures and TL 30,000 in fines in 2014.
Minister of Labor Faruk Çelik confessed this yesterday in an exhausted
manner, saying, `Whenever we close a mine, at least 50 people call to
reopen it.' Can you still defend the idea that we want real solutions?
http://www.todayszaman.com/columnist/gunal-kursun/real-solutions-needed_363286.html
From: A. Papazian
Nov 2 2014
Real solutions needed
by GÃ`NAL KURÅ?UN
November 02, 2014, Sunday
I have asked myself this question several times: Does this government
want real solutions to the many issues Turkey has? We can ask this
question regarding a number of prominent and well-known problems, such
as the Kurdish issue, Cyprus, the Armenian genocide -- as well as
other issues we consider domestic affairs. My answer is limited to
what I see, particularly the actions and reactions of the government
to these issues.
In my opinion, the strategy this government has decided on, up until
the 2015 elections, is to not really act, but to be seen as taking all
necessary actions. At every point, they do not take the necessary
steps, but they like it to appear as if they will take steps soon. In
the Kurdish issue, we have been waiting for Godot to come for the last
three years, as very limited steps forward were taken by the
government that affect ordinary people's lives. They opened up a
Kurdish language and literature department at Mardin Artuklu
University which allows 20-25 students every year, and whenever there
has been a demand for Kurdish language education in the last three
years, they show this department as an example. If I was a Kurdish
father, I would want my children to have Turkish and English lessons
from the first grade or even before, in order to use it to earn money,
but I would also want them to attend Kurdish classes at the same level
in order to know their culture and mother tongue. This issue, to which
the real solution would not be the end of the world, still remains
unsolved. Kurdish language education will not divide Turkey, and it
has no relationship to unity in the country, but the government has
shown no signs of positive steps recently, which leads to harsh
criticism and sometimes wild protests.
In Cyprus, where we were expecting several steps from both sides, an
energy crisis occurred, and we are at a point where it looks as if it
is not strategic for either side to come to a solution. Sometimes
problems help to fortify the positions of the two sides, as no real
solutions are needed in order to save the day. Why should the Greek
part unite with the poor north, as they have become an EU member
already? Why should the Turkish side beg the Greeks, since they can
enjoy power, even if it is isolated? If the solution is not strategic
and beneficial for the day, both sides may choose not to solve it.
The Armenian genocide issue is another pathetic problem for Turkey to
confront. During football diplomacy days, we were very optimistic
about a possible solution, particularly on giving up the denial policy
and sending apologies and condolences. I'm not so sure that everybody
supports this solution in Turkey for today, after 100 years of the
denial policy. If the border opens with Armenia, if the limited
diplomatic pressure on Turkey is removed, will it be that beneficial,
if it means losing nationalist votes? We come upon another game theory
at this stage, which deserves another column from me in the coming
days.
On the control of mines, the Justice and Development Party (AKP)
government enacted an important law, namely Law No. 6331, the Work
Health and Security Law, in 2012. Most of the vital provisions of this
law are postponed until 2016. They've made a specific regulation on
safety in mines, which was published on Sept. 24, to enter into force
after one year. In 2014, up until today, we've lost more than 400
workers in accidents in mines which have poor safety conditions.
Statistically, there were 27,374 mine inspections made by state
officials in 2005, whereas there were only 8,854 inspections in 2013.
There were 54 closures and TL 379,000 in fines for mines that didn't
fulfill the requirements of the mining law (Law No. 3213), whereas we
see seven closures and TL 30,000 in fines in 2014.
Minister of Labor Faruk Çelik confessed this yesterday in an exhausted
manner, saying, `Whenever we close a mine, at least 50 people call to
reopen it.' Can you still defend the idea that we want real solutions?
http://www.todayszaman.com/columnist/gunal-kursun/real-solutions-needed_363286.html
From: A. Papazian