XXIII. WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THE PKK?
At the outset PKK referred to the liberation of Kurds in Syria, Iran, Iraq and Turkey.118 It is likely that PKK’s long term objective is the formation of a "Kurdistan" in an area occupying the territories of those countries. In the documents published on PKK publications, the maps of "Kurdistan" covering the parts of the Middle East can be seen.119 Frequent reference to "Northern Kurdistan" which corresponds to the Southeastern and some parts of the Eastern Turkey and "Southern Kurdistan" implies that the countries which provide shelter to the PKK might become its target in not so distant future. Accordingly, PKK’s attack on the Northern Iraqi Kurdish Barzani group started in August 1995 indicates that PKK’s aims are not limited to Turkey.
On the other hand, in order not to irritate the states concerned for a possible change in the balance of powers with regard to the change of borders, PKK leader, Öcalan states that his intention is no more than securing political and cultural rights for Kurds in Turkey. Such a statement was included in his letter to President Clinton.120 Knowing the sensitivity of Turkish public opinion on the protection of territorial integrity which is also a principle of International Law, Öcalan stresses that he does not seek secession from Turkey. In fact, it will objectively be unwise for the Southeast to be separated from Turkey for it needs material aid and economic investment by the State to overcome its poverty.
In spite of his Marxist and atheist views, Öcalan has sought support from Iran by employing Islamic rhetoric.121 In addition to this, his close relations with the Greek, the Syriac, the Armenian and the Serb,122 and his dwelling in Syria, a country officially declared by the USA as sponsoring terrorism, also where Kurds are persecuted prove that Öcalan pursues an opportunist policy for his self interest and also for the interests of the states he is in service since he expects support from everywhere except the Kurds themselves although he constantly claims that his struggle is on behalf of the Kurds.
118 PKK Kuruluþ Bildirisi [PKK Foundation Declaration], p. 22. Gunter finds interesting that in a program of the PKK in 1977 the small Kurdish area in the Soviet Union was not mentioned. See Gunter, The Kurds..., p. 59.
119 Yeni Sayfa, 18 July 1995.
120 Al-Hayat, 19 October 1995.
121 Criss, "The Nature of...", p. 23.
122 Yeni Sayfa, 18 July 1995.