Contents:

Turkey’s Refusal To Take Part In The War
by Jean Lambert

A Window Into The Modern Age
The Gulf-region is underdeveloped, politically instable, and incapable of reforms
by Hans Branscheidt

No Fair Trial In Turkey
Interview with Irfan Dündar
by John Toobisch-Haupt

“The Heirs Of Gilgamesh”
Abdullah Ocalan’s new book
by Oliver Kontny

Self-Determination And Democratisation
The vision of a democratic Middle East
Interview with Duran Kalkan

In The Aftermath Of The War
Interview with Kenneth Pollack
by Cemal Ucar

Editorial

Whether the law of nations has been violated or not - the war in Iraq has brought the Kurdish question back on the international agenda. The debate about future federal structures in Iraq is particularly important for the Kurds. Well-reputed think-tanks have already begun to think beyond such a scheme. In their considerations the dream of a "democratic Middle East" is virtually taking shape. It remains open yet what kind of democracy this is going to be. The people in the Middle East will have to choose themselves in the end. For all the map exercises going on at present the geographic situation and the areas of Kurdish settlement in the Middle East are very interesting. After the Lausanne treaty in 1923 when the division of Kurdistan was determined any national Kurdish ambition necessarily had a destabilising effect on local regimes. Today's attempts at a reformation of the Middle East let the situation appear in a different light. The democratic ambitions of the Kurds in Turkey and their avowed intentions to solve the Kurdish question by democratic means within the existing borders of Turkey might absolutely have a stabilising effect. This will, however, remain a dream if there is no solution of both the Kurdish and the Israel-Palestine question. Currently, however, the status quo is being challenged. The objective must be a democratic Middle East with federal character allowing room for the development of civil structures that can give the region its long needed impetus. The surrounding oligarchic, theocratic, or nepotistic regimes are impediments on this way. The creation of OSCE-like structures could be a first step in order to allow for all relevant powers to take part in such a project. Any kind of imposed democratisation does not look very promising if it is not supported by the people. The dynamic process presently gathering momentum invites both the people and the regimes to revise their opinion. It will be crucial, however, to what extent the basis of these societies can get involved in this process.
The Kurds in Turkey have made it clear that they are ready to participate in this which is also underlined by the consequent line of peace they follow. Turkey cannot close its eyes to such a process if it is willing to ensure its continued future existence. Then a peaceful understanding with its Kurdish citizens is the only viable way. A democratic Turkey which offers all its citizens the same cultural and political rights may lead the way for democratising the entire Middle East. It is Turkey's turn now.
Besides, this edition features an analysis of the Iraq issue by Hans Branscheidt, an article on related topics by Jean Lambert, plus interviews with Kenneth Pollack, Irfan Dündar, and Duran Kalkan.

The editorial staff, May 10, 2003