On January 15th, 2013 Hurriyet published an article by Barcin Yinanc headlined 'No other countries involved in PKK talks…yet'. "Sadly and ironically, the murder of three outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) members in Paris has served to make us optimistic that talks initiated by the government for a solution to the Kurdish problem will remain immune to provocations. Yet this immunity might not prevent future initiatives of sabotage," the article begins.
"It is crucial for the Turkish government to take the necessary measures to minimize the likelihood of provocative acts. This requires short-to-mid and long-term planning," the article reads. "In the short term, the government is expecting the PKK’s armed groups to withdraw beyond Turkey’s borders. Even this first step brings the regional dimension – and therefore third, fourth and fifth parties – into the equation."
"In contrast to the Oslo process, where Turkish state officials met with the PKK’s European representatives in the Norwegian capital in the presence of a foreigner, “there is no third country involved in the process right now,” an official who is familiar with the current process told me. But he did say that the United States will become more involved through Northern Iraq," the author writes.
"The Iraqi Kurdish leadership will play a key role in this whole process. Turkey’s improved relationship with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is therefore an important asset but having Iraqi Kurds on board is not enough," the article reads. " While Washington will be willing to work for the solution to the Kurdish problem; this is not the only issue on its plate. Maintaining stability in Iraq – albeit a fragile one – is more important than the Kurdish issue. It might, therefore, put pressure on Turkey to change its stance toward the Nouri al-Maliki government."
