Powell: Northern Ireland is a very different problem than PKK

LONDON (A.A) – November 14, 2011 – Jonathan Powell, who carried out Northern Ireland peace process talks in the United Kingdom, has said that Northern Ireland problem was very different than PKK terror. Powell was a key name when British government sat at the table for peace talks with IRA. He was the right hand-man of former British premier Tony Blair. In an exclusive interview with the AA, Powell told about the experiences they gained while solving Northern Ireland problem. While telling the preliminary condition for a success in peace talks, Powell said that parties should understand that they would not be able to win through military ways. Noting that Northern Ireland was a very different problem than PKK, Powell said that solution model for Northern Ireland could not be applied to another problem. However, our mistakes and successes can teach much, he added. When recalled of the attacks of PKK terrorist organization which recently increased despite Turkish government's Kurdish move, Powell said that sometimes agreements and meetings could fail, however, it was necessary to keep trying. Also, extremists should not be allowed to carry out the talks, he added. Parties did not allow the violent acts of extremists to control or interrupt the negotiation process, said Powell, adding that the process should be controlled by those who wanted peace. Powell noted that one of the most important pre-conditions of negotiations was that negotiations shall not be carried out while violence was continuing. Powell said that they did not begin negotiations with IRA before a cease-fire was declared.