By David L. Phillips.
November 1, 2007
PRIME MINISTER Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey is under tremendous pressure to act decisively against the Kurdistan Workers' Party. He should resist demands for military action. Attacking the PKK in Northern Iraq would have serious repercussions, undermining Turkey 's democratic development, radicalizing Turkish Kurds, and risking a regional conflagration while adversely affecting relations between the United States and Turkey , as well as Turkey 's candidacy for membership in the European Union.
The PKK launched its armed struggle in 1978 with the goal of ending repression and establishing "Greater Kurdistan," encompassing territory in Turkey , Iran , Iraq , and Syria . The Turkish state responded by declaring a state of emergency in the Kurdish areas of Southeastern Turkey and cracking down with its military. Up to 30,000 people died in the ensuing conflict. Full Text
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