Democratic Union Party official Saleh Muslim: World is changing and Turkey must change along with it

NORTH AND EAST SYRIA — Amid renewed discussions in Turkey over the so-called “Kurdish issue” and efforts by Ankara to find what it calls a “solution,” Saleh Muslim, a member of the Democratic Union Party’s (PYD) presidential body, emphasized that Turkey is under pressure to resolve the long-standing issue. Muslim noted that Ankara is compelled to reconsider its stance due to shifting global dynamics, despite its decade-long military campaign against the Kurdish people.

Muslim highlighted the significant toll the prolonged conflict has taken on Turkey, citing economic, political, and diplomatic losses. “The Turkish government recognizes the necessity of change and realizes it cannot progress without addressing the Kurdish issue,” he remarked.

He urged the Kurdish community to approach current developments with caution, recalling similar past attempts that ultimately fell short. Muslim referenced initiatives during the administrations of Turgut Özal in 1993, Necmettin Erbakan in 1998, and the Oslo peace process in 2015, all of which collapsed when Turkey reversed its course.

Muslim’s statement underscores the complex and unresolved nature of the Kurdish issue in Turkey, with hope that recent global shifts may prompt meaningful dialogue and a lasting resolution.