Did Trump and Erdogan destroy the Kurdish dream?

摘要

Since centuries the Kurdish people have been hoping to create its own state. But until now without any success! An estimated ethnic group of 30 to 35 million people currently lives in mainly four countries - Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey. On its own, the group was not powerful enough to conquer a state or to defend its settlement area. Therefore, only strong partners could lead to an autonomous or independent Kurdish state. The former American president Woodrow Wilson stated in his "fourteen points" in 1918 the principle of self-determination of all people. For the first time the Kurdish community saw its dream coming true. The Peace conference of Sevres in 1920 promised a Kurdish autonomy. But in the aftermath Kemal Ataturk took power in Turkey and reestablished its sovereignty. The United States - the initiator of the principle of self-determination - stepped back from the League of Nations and the Kurds were alone again. In the coming decades potential partners like the two super powers were too busy to fight each other.