Diyarbakır: The key to solving ’Kurdish issue’
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Radikal
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Nisan 09, 2009 00:00
Diyarbakır may transform into a 'metropolitan basin' easily and help the developments of neighboring cities. That is why, rather then who won Diyarbakır in the local election, the important thing is winning over Diyarbakır
Diyarbakır is getting organized even though it is happening unplanned. It experiences high rates of poverty and unemployment together with the process of the founding of its middle class. Diyarbakır is the symbol of - the key to - solving Turkey’s Kurdish problem. It holds strategic importance for both Turkey and the Middle East while attracting attention with getting the lion’s share from the projects and the funds of the European Union.
Diyarbakır paints the picture of an Anatolian city unlike the others with its recent commercial success, urban transformation projects and its claim on communications with the Middle East. While it differs from the other rising cities of Anatolia, Diyarbakır also adds to the dynamism or the area. It is being observed that the city can both be a dynamic actor that would determine the running of local markets and a trade corridor and center which will provide urban competitiveness in the globalized economy.
Although terror and violence have disrupted the inner balance, Diyarbakır is still the key to the future, a "metropolitan basin." Intense work is in progress around the area through the Southeastern Anatolia Project, or GAP, and the support and guidance of the EU for Gaziantep in rapid development, bettering economical and social conditions, preserving the cultural heritage, bettering environment conditions and improving life conditions in general.
Re-designing the city
The rehabilitation project for Gazi Street, of great importance to the city’s history, is one of them. Redesigning the city’s sidewalks to make them handicapped accessible is another. There is much work to be done in this city backed both by GAP and the EU, but dialogue between the partners is also important in this process.
Diyarbakır, one of the most developed cities once upon a time, is the 79th province among 81 in the habitability index today. In the competition index, it is 67th, and it is 42nd in the index for economic activity and vitality. In human capital index, things are not that bright, either, since Diyarbakır takes the 67th spot. This performance is not the fault of Diyarbakır but the multifaceted problem called "the Kurdish problem." Diyarbakır is the key point of this problem and also the key to solving it. All of the cities in the southern and southeastern Anatolian regions that face this problem are at the low spots of habitability and competition indexes.
When looked into Diyarbakır’s economic profile, there are sectors of trade and service there, rather than industry. Improving border trading holds great importance in the city’s commercial development. Fifty-five percent of the export firms in Diyarbakır trade with Iraq while approximately 70 percent deal with the Middle East and Asia Minor. Mehmet Kaya, former president of Diyarbakır Chamber of Commerce and Industry, says that because they are aware of the economic structure, businessmen from Europe or even from the Far East are doing trade with Iraq over Diyarbakır. In this sense, Diyarbakır is not only a trade corridor but a city that would determine the local market dynamics with the trade fair culture it established in the recent years. Diyarbakır now houses critical meetings and fairs that sets the rules for trade in the area. Diyarbakır, seeming determined to be the fair center of the Middle East, is planning to house 20 different fairs.
Among the factors that brings the service sector forth in Diyarbakır are the airport that offers service to the region, the metropolitan status, housing the biggest university of the region and the presence of the region centers of many foundations and institutions. The marble industry and tourism are perceived to be the sectors with promising futures in the city. Besides this economic transformation, Diyarbakır is also in transformation in social and cultural areas with the influence of globalization. As the city integrates into global markets successfully, its residents are also believed to be experiencing changes in their way of thinking alongside the city’s transformation.
Interest in city problems
Kaya is one of the people to say there is a serious change of mentality going on as a process in Diyarbakır. He says many topics that were taboo for Diyarbakır, like identity, are being questioned now and the importance of improved life conditions is realized through globalization. Kaya points out that people are showing interest in city’s problems now, ones that are unrelated to their Kurdish identity. An urban awareness is formed in the city, especially after the beginning of the 2000s. This makes the residents stake a claim to their city and helps shape them into demanding individuals who are asking questions as their awareness increases.
In short, Diyarbakır is experiencing the first and greatest effect of globalization with the development of urban awareness. The population, which was divided by the clash of different identities, is uniting around the identity of being Diyarbakır residents in the 2000s. In Diyarbakır, poverty and the forming of the middle class; identity and individualization; unplanned city growth; and effort are walking hand in hand in Diyarbakır. Diyarbakır may transform into a "metropolitan basin" easily and help the developments of neighboring cities. That is why, rather then who won Diyarbakır at the local election, the important thing is winning over Diyarbakır. The people of Diyarbakır are aware of this fact. They talk, they discuss, they demand. The government and other political parties should all heed this call.
Diyarbakır paints the picture of an Anatolian city unlike the others with its recent commercial success, urban transformation projects and its claim on communications with the Middle East. While it differs from the other rising cities of Anatolia, Diyarbakır also adds to the dynamism or the area. It is being observed that the city can both be a dynamic actor that would determine the running of local markets and a trade corridor and center which will provide urban competitiveness in the globalized economy.
Although terror and violence have disrupted the inner balance, Diyarbakır is still the key to the future, a "metropolitan basin." Intense work is in progress around the area through the Southeastern Anatolia Project, or GAP, and the support and guidance of the EU for Gaziantep in rapid development, bettering economical and social conditions, preserving the cultural heritage, bettering environment conditions and improving life conditions in general.
Re-designing the city
The rehabilitation project for Gazi Street, of great importance to the city’s history, is one of them. Redesigning the city’s sidewalks to make them handicapped accessible is another. There is much work to be done in this city backed both by GAP and the EU, but dialogue between the partners is also important in this process.
Diyarbakır, one of the most developed cities once upon a time, is the 79th province among 81 in the habitability index today. In the competition index, it is 67th, and it is 42nd in the index for economic activity and vitality. In human capital index, things are not that bright, either, since Diyarbakır takes the 67th spot. This performance is not the fault of Diyarbakır but the multifaceted problem called "the Kurdish problem." Diyarbakır is the key point of this problem and also the key to solving it. All of the cities in the southern and southeastern Anatolian regions that face this problem are at the low spots of habitability and competition indexes.
When looked into Diyarbakır’s economic profile, there are sectors of trade and service there, rather than industry. Improving border trading holds great importance in the city’s commercial development. Fifty-five percent of the export firms in Diyarbakır trade with Iraq while approximately 70 percent deal with the Middle East and Asia Minor. Mehmet Kaya, former president of Diyarbakır Chamber of Commerce and Industry, says that because they are aware of the economic structure, businessmen from Europe or even from the Far East are doing trade with Iraq over Diyarbakır. In this sense, Diyarbakır is not only a trade corridor but a city that would determine the local market dynamics with the trade fair culture it established in the recent years. Diyarbakır now houses critical meetings and fairs that sets the rules for trade in the area. Diyarbakır, seeming determined to be the fair center of the Middle East, is planning to house 20 different fairs.
Among the factors that brings the service sector forth in Diyarbakır are the airport that offers service to the region, the metropolitan status, housing the biggest university of the region and the presence of the region centers of many foundations and institutions. The marble industry and tourism are perceived to be the sectors with promising futures in the city. Besides this economic transformation, Diyarbakır is also in transformation in social and cultural areas with the influence of globalization. As the city integrates into global markets successfully, its residents are also believed to be experiencing changes in their way of thinking alongside the city’s transformation.
Interest in city problems
Kaya is one of the people to say there is a serious change of mentality going on as a process in Diyarbakır. He says many topics that were taboo for Diyarbakır, like identity, are being questioned now and the importance of improved life conditions is realized through globalization. Kaya points out that people are showing interest in city’s problems now, ones that are unrelated to their Kurdish identity. An urban awareness is formed in the city, especially after the beginning of the 2000s. This makes the residents stake a claim to their city and helps shape them into demanding individuals who are asking questions as their awareness increases.
In short, Diyarbakır is experiencing the first and greatest effect of globalization with the development of urban awareness. The population, which was divided by the clash of different identities, is uniting around the identity of being Diyarbakır residents in the 2000s. In Diyarbakır, poverty and the forming of the middle class; identity and individualization; unplanned city growth; and effort are walking hand in hand in Diyarbakır. Diyarbakır may transform into a "metropolitan basin" easily and help the developments of neighboring cities. That is why, rather then who won Diyarbakır at the local election, the important thing is winning over Diyarbakır. The people of Diyarbakır are aware of this fact. They talk, they discuss, they demand. The government and other political parties should all heed this call.