Social Democratic Party of Austria National Council Member Paul Stich offered a wide-ranging assessment of developments in Syria, Turkey, and the Kurdish issue. Stich, who previously served for five years as president of the Austrian Socialist Youth Organization (Sozialistische Jugend), said that during this period he worked in close contact with numerous international institutions and organizations, particularly on foreign policy and on the Kurdish issue in Turkey and Syria. He stressed that the Kurdish question has been one of the central issues that has consistently occupied him throughout his political life.
Stich sharply criticized the European Union’s recent stance toward Syria, describing it as deeply troubling that senior European Union officials, during their visit to Damascus, ignored both the bombardments in Northern Syria and the situation of the civilian population in Rojava. He said this approach was unacceptable not only for the Social Democratic Party of Austria but also for many international social democratic parties.
Kurds’ will cannot be ignored to achieve peace in Syria
Paul Stich said that feedback he has received both from Kurdish contacts and from different ethnic groups in Syria points to a serious climate of distrust surrounding the agreements currently on the agenda. He noted that there are major question marks over whether these agreements can be lasting, stressing that several fundamental issues therefore require particular attention. Addressing a possible transition process in Syria, Stich said that the post-Assad period could only represent genuine liberation if it includes all ethnic and social groups. Stich said, “Freedom that exists only for one segment is not freedom,” underlining that decisions concerning the future of the Kurds cannot be made by disregarding the will of the Kurdish people.
Stich emphasized that Syria is a multi-ethnic society and said that lasting peace in the country would only be possible through a system that includes security guarantees, clearly defines minority rights, and places those rights under constitutional protection. He added that these rights must not remain at the level of verbal commitments but must be implemented through concrete mechanisms.
Öcalan’s call is an important step
Paul Stich described Abdullah Öcalan’s call for peace as a highly important and positive development. He said he hopes this step will mark the beginning of a peace process that truly deserves its name.
Stich said the success of such a process depends on three fundamental conditions. He stated first that peace is only possible in an environment where the rights of the Kurdish people are recognized, and no one is treated as a second-class citizen.
He then pointed to the uncertainty surrounding how seriously conservative and right-wing ruling circles in Turkey are approaching the process. Stich said that assessments coming both from Turkey and from Kurdish and Turkish communities living in Vienna suggest the process could be used by the Erdoğan government as a tactic to buy time and ease domestic political pressure. He added that European governments must therefore closely monitor the process and insist on genuine peace.
Stich said the third and critical point is that the opposition in Turkey must not be divided. He noted that the Republican People’s Party (CHP) should take on a constructive role during this period. He said opposition parties must not be turned against one another and added that an authoritarian system still prevails in Turkey. Stich referred to the pressure directed at the Mayor of Istanbul and said democracy and the rule of law can only be achieved if democratic and peaceful forces act together.
Stich also said the question “Who is Turkey?” should be asked more frequently. He noted that Turkey, like Austria and Germany, is not a monolithic society but one that includes many different identities, views, and interest groups. He stressed that Erdoğan’s authoritarian rule does not represent the whole of Turkey and underlined that a strong democratic and oppositional segment exists within society.
PKK removal from EU terror list tied to peace
Paul Stich said that once peace is established in Syria, the rights of Kurds in Northern Syria are guaranteed, and a genuine peace process is implemented in Turkey, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) should be removed from the European Union’s terror list. He said such a step would be a natural consequence of peace being secured in a concrete and lasting way.
Stich said the images coming from Northern Syria are deeply disturbing and pointed out that young people are constantly exposed to scenes of war on social media. He also criticized the way wars are covered by the media, saying that the voices of certain victims are not heard sufficiently in Western media.
Stich said, “Palestinian civilians are often pushed into the background in Austrian media, and the same applies to the Kurds,” adding that social democracy will not accept this silence.
The rights of people in Northern and Eastern Syria will be defended
Paul Stich said that the Social Democratic Party of Austria and social democratic representatives in the European Parliament have been actively engaged on this issue for years, particularly Andreas Schieder. He said they will continue to defend the rights of the civilian population in Northern Syria and of those living in the autonomous regions.
Stich said, “Genuine peace can only be achieved when a safe and dignified life is possible for everyone,” underlining that no solution in Syria can be lasting if Kurds and other minorities are excluded.