ISTANBUL - Reminding that Öcalan was the first person to say that the Third World War started with the US invasion of Iraq, writer Veysi Sarısözen said, “The Third World War started in the center of the Kurdish question. Ukraine and Europe are now paying the price for the unresolved Kurdish question." 

 

Russia's long-planned military action against Ukraine is on its second day. After Russia's decision to recognize the independence of the two autonomous government in Donbass, it started to deploy troops to these regions. There are reports that hundreds of people lost their lives in the conflicts that spread to multiple parts of the country, including the capital Kiev. Evaluating Russia's military operation, journalist and writer Veysi Sarısözen drew attention to the importance of peace.

 

Stating that there has been a reaction in Russia against the disintegration of the Soviet Union for a long time, Sarısözen said, "Even though the Russians wanted to give up on socialism, they never got over the disintegration of the Soviet Union in this way. Therefore, they have already taken a number of measures. They made special agreements with many former Soviet Republics. They did things like the Shanghai Five and set up military bases there."

 

IMPORTANCE OF UKRAINE TO RUSSIA

 

Underlining that the Ukraine issue has a completely different historical feature for the Russians, Sarısözen said, "Putin said in his last speech that Ukraine is a part of Russia. Looking at history, it would be wrong to say otherwise. In a way, Russia was founded in Kiev. But a lot of water has flowed beneath the bridge now. The Soviet Union no longer exists, and Russia is a capitalist and imperialist state. Just like USA, China, UK and France. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention  to this reality in order to characterize the wars taking place today. This war is actually a part of the hegemony war between the imperialist states.

 

A NATIONS RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION

 

Referring to the recognition of the independence of the two autonomous regions in Donbass by Russia, Sarısözen added that these two autonomous governments consist of Russian minorities. Stating that the right to self-determination of these two governments should be defended, Sarısözen said, “These two Democratic Republics established there are about the implementation of the Russians' right to self-determination as a nation. We can't object to that. The USA, NATO and Turkey talk about the territorial integrity of Ukraine, but the Russian people living in Donbass say that it is their land and they want to be governed there within their own will. But Russia considers peoples' right to use their right to self-determination on its imperialist and panistlavist basis and tries to take advantage of it."

 

'ÖCALAN WARNED YEARS AGO'

 

Reminding that PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan was the first person to say that the third world war started with the US invasion of Iraq after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Sarısözen said, “His statement at first seemed like an extreme statement. But now this war is reflected to Europe as a whole. Öcalan's vision years ago has been tragically confirmed today. The third world war started in the center of the Kurdish problem. Now the Ukrainian people and even Europe are paying the price for the unresolved Kurdish question. If serious steps had been taken in those days, if the Kurdish problem had been resolved in all four parts of Kurdistan, the Third World War would have been extinguished in the center. This did not happen, the will of the Kurdish people was ignored. The price for that is now being paid worldwide."

 

A NEW STAGE IN THE THIRD WAR

 

Stating that the third world war, which Öcalan mentioned that was compressed in Syria and Iraq, has reached a new stage, Sarısözen continued: “With this war, the world will become seriously polarized. China has already made statements announcing that it will take sides with Russia. Ukraine was a region where Soviet nuclear weapons were located during Soviet reign. The control mechanism of these weapons was in Moscow. However, a lot of technological information was in the hands of Ukrainian people. Now Ukraine has begun to talk about nuclear weapons. I guess Russia already knew about this and they have goals such as pushing Ukraine back from its targets and stopping its navy with more dangerous weapons.”

 

HOW WILL RUSSIA POSITION ITSELF REGARDING ROJAVA?

 

Referring to the point where Turkey stands, Sarısözen said, "Turkey said it occupied Cyprus for the safety of their kins there. They established a state there with this understanding. Now the Russians are doing the same thing and Turkey is criticising what it has done in the past. How can you criticise the thing you have done yourself? It has done the same in Cyprus. It opposes the situation because Turkey's Ukraine policy is closely related to the struggle of the Kurdish freedom movement. Because the recognition of the independence of the two autonomous regions may lead to a development that supports the policy of the Kurdish Freedom Movement to establish autonomous structures in parts of Kurdistan. This is what the Kurds want as well and the states in the region does not recognize the right of the Kurds to self-determination. How will Russia position itself regarding Rojava now? The steps taken by Rojava with the steps taken by the Russian people in Donbass are parallel to each other."

 

'YOU ARE A SHIP DRIFTING AWAY'

 

Referring to AKP President Tayyip Erdoğan who recently told that Turkey can neither give up on Ukraine, nor Russia, Sarısözen said: "The minute he said this, it leads to him being a ship drifting away. Indeed, this will happen. When Turkey acts in line with NATO, Russia will certainly impose sanctions. On the other hand, if it takes a stand with Russia, NATO will come down on Turkey. What does this double dead end remind us of anyway? It reminds us about the importance of the Third Path diplomatic strategy the PKK Leader told us about."

 

TURKEY FACES SEVERE ECONOMIC CRISIS

 

Sarısözen underlined that Turkey did not know what to do in this war and that it was the head of the countries that would suffer the most, and said: “Turkey will fall into a very severe economic crisis. Wheat may not be bought, natural gas prices may peak again. Foreign currency will spike again. Before the conquest of Istanbul, 6 opposition parties in Turkey are discussing the same issues as the popes in Byzantium discussed the sex of angels with each other. But now, Turkey is in trouble. Here, the party that can guarantee stability, peace and prosperity is the democracy alliance. These groups, led by the HDP, must now express their mission in the strongest possible terms. It is necessary to re-formulate the diplomatic strategy of the third way vigorously. People should have the right to self-determination. It is necessary to object to the imperialists stealing this revolutionary struggle of the peoples. But it is necessary to call on both sides to overcome this crisis through dialogue. If we can do so, we will be able to emerge as the alternative force of the current crisis.”

 

MA/ Ferhat Çelik