Languages: Kurdî ‏سۆرانی‎

Declaration of the Summit of National Stance against Turkey’s occupationist efforts in Kurdistan

Upon a request by the Joint Diplomatic Committee of Kurdistan’s Political Parties and Institutions, which is under the umbrella of the KNK and consists of 34 parties and institutions, and a dozen of representatives of political parties and institutions, on 27 July 2019 the Summit of National Stance against Turkey’s occupation of Kurdistan was held in Brussels. Even though the Summit was scheduled for Turkey’s occupation of Kurdistan, Iran’s occupationist efforts in Kurdistan was also discussed.

Dear Kurdistanians,

It is true that Kurdistan was first divided into two parts by the Qaser Shirin Treaty, and later divided into four by the Lausanne Treaty. But the Kurdistanians have never recognised any of these treaties. Against them they have continuously rebelled and never submitted to the occupiers. Along the Kurdish people these treaties have divided other Kurdistanian entities such as Assyrian, Syrian and Chaldeans.

In the last three decades, a new circumstance has emerged in Kurdistan. First in the South (Iraqi Kurdistan) and later in Rojava (Syrian Kurdistan) two local governments were established. Obviously, none of Turkey and Iran can stand this. For this reason, they have tried to wipe them out. If they could not do this, they would interfere in them or impose economic sanction against them. In this process, Iran created a number of problems. It bombed the headquarters of East Kurdistan parties and assassinated a number of their leading cadres. Very recently, it resumed artillery shelling of some areas in South Kurdistan.

The Turkish state, on the one hand, target the Kurdish people inside its borders, responding their legitimate demands with tyranny and oppression and, on the other hand, it has set its eyes on Southern and Western Kurdistan. Since early 1990s, it has increased its cross-border operations, setting up military and espionage centres in a number of places such as Badînan and Mosul. Not only it uses these forces against HPG guerrillas but is has also occupied a large swathe of land. Turkish occupation is not only a military phenomenon. It is also economic, cultural and social phenomena. It has laid hands on places such as Kerkûk and the detached areas, aiming at demographic change of the region. In an overt manner, it supports the opponents of Kurdistan in those areas. Especially after the 2017 referendum, Turkey and Iran have played a big role in the re-occupation of Kerkûk and other detached areas.

After the establishment of Self-Administration in Rojava, the Turkish state renewed its strategy. For this purpose, it reformulated its occupationist militarist plans and put them into effect. It started from Azzam and Jarablus and then it occupied Efrîn. Now, it is preparing for the occupation of Kobanê, Girê Sipî and Cizîre.

The occupationist approach of the Turkish state inflexibly continues. After the occupation of Efrîn, Turkey has been systematically committing crimes against humanity. It has changed the demography of Efrîn and plundered its natural resources. Now, this occupation has taken a new content and image in Southern Kurdistan. Military and espionage complexes are not enough. Turkey intends to completely occupy many strategic areas.

The Turkish state has now occupied the Biradost region in Southern Kurdistan. It has continuously been attacking other areas intending to occupy them. The Biradost region is bordering Northern and Eastern Kurdistan. The occupation of this strategic region poses a great danger for the Kurdistan Liberation Movement in Northern and Eastern Kurdistan as well as the Kurdistan Regional Government in Southern Kurdistan. Supporting Turkey’s occupationist efforts, Iran decided to stay silent as it suffers from the economic embargos the United States has imposed on it.

The Iraqi government, moreover, has been silent at the face of the occupation. The independence referendum of 2017 offered an opportunity for the Iraqi government to work with the Turkish state against the Kurdistan Liberation Movement. Despite all this, unfortunately, the Kurdistan Regional Government has been silent, not taking a stance. On the other hand, a number of parliamentarian groups, some political parties and civil society institutions, and the Kurdish people in the South in general have nonetheless stood against the occupation. It is mandatory that the government and all other political circles pay attention to the demand of their people, reject the occupation, and take a position against it.

Turkey initiated this new wave of occupation for a strategic reason. It occupied Efrîn in order to prevent the Kurds’ access to the Mediterranean Sea. With the occupation of the mentioned region in Southern Kurdistan it wants to impose its hegemony over the rest of Greater Kurdistan.

The occupation of Biradost, Kêleşîn all the way down to Xwakurk and Sîdekan, which is the triangle of Northern, Southern and Eastern Kurdistan is a military achievement to Turkey. But for three parts of Kurdistan it is another loss and detachment. This is what desired by Iran.

In order to mislead the public opinion internationally the Turkish state has tried to justify its invasion of Kurdistan with the pretext of fighting the PKK and the People Defence Forces (HPG). This is manipulation and distortion of facts. That is why the true face of these invasions and occupations should be laid bare for the people of Kurdistan and the international community.

In the centenary of its foundation, 2023, the Turkish state wants to put into effect the “national pact” according to which the borders of Turkey should be extended to include the province of Mosel in Iraq and a large swathe of land in north of Syria. The purpose of the Turkish state is obviously to occupy the whole of this region and to wipe out what the people of Kurdistan have achieved.

Owing to these factors, we, as the Joint Diplomatic Committee of Kurdistan Political Parties and Institutions as well as all participants of this Summit, want to draw attention to this political and strategic reality in order to prevent the adversaries, and push away the threats and the dangers from the people of Kurdistan.

In light of these facts, we suggest the following demands for the people of Kurdistan, all political parties and civil institutions, the Rojava Self-Administration and particularly the Kurdistan Regional Government which the occupied region of the South fall under its sovereignty:

The Summit categorically condemns Turkey’s and Iran’s occupationist endeavours in Kurdistan and demands enhancing of liberating efforts at these occupations.

The Turkish state’s occupationist efforts in Southern Kurdistan obstructs the path of the Kurdistan Liberation Movement in Northern and Eastern Kurdistan. It also opens the way for the weakening of the Kurdistan Regional Government. It once again set the Kurds apart from one another, weakening the revolutionary forces. For this reason, it is necessary that all sides must consider the occupied lands as the core of Kurdistan. They must stand against the occupations and intensify their liberating works.

Turkey’s air raids carried out from Zaxo to Qendîl are continued, resulting in significant loss of life and material damage to the local people. The Turkish army have evacuated many villages and set up permanent military complexes, signalling a permanent occupation. That is way all Kurdistanians should stand up against this occupation and actively raise their objection to it.

The presence of guerrilla and pêşmerge in those regions is historic and legitimate. In all times, Kurdistan liberationists have taken to those areas where they establish their headquarters. This is their country and it is their national and patriotic rights. With national and patriotic sentiments, all Kurdistanian movements should neutralise the foes’ propaganda that their neighbouring states are attacked from those areas. Without a doubt, each part of occupied Kurdistan has its own characteristic that must be considered. But this does not mean that the Kurdistan liberationists should stay away from those borders set up by the occupiers of Kurdistan. Owing to this, these attacks and occupations must be condemned by a unified voice and the occupying forces must be expelled.

Along resistance to occupation in Southern Kurdistan, Turkey’s occupation of Western Kurdistan extending from Efrîn to Azzaz, Bab and Jarablus must also be condemned. Demands must be made for Turkey to withdraw.

The Iranian attacks must not be forgotten. Similarly, position must be taken against Iran’s invasion and its occupationist efforts in Kurdistan. The Iranian state must unconditionally end its invasion of the region. While Iran is under an international embargo, the best option for it is to engage itself in dialogue with the Kurdistanian circles and solve the problem in a peaceful manner.

It is important to draw the attention of the Iraqi federal government to this issue, as Turkey has crossed the international border of Iraq. Turkey has violated the international and neighbourhood laws as well as the territorial sovereignty of Iraq. Turkey has continued its attack on Iraq’s territory, taking hold of an extensive area.

In order to facilitate a timely preparation against these occupations, the Summit calls upon the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Kurdistan Patriotic Union as well as all Kurdistanian forces to organise joint meetings and take a joint stance.

The Joint Diplomatic Committee of Kurdistan’s Political Parties and Institutions as well as all participating parties, institutions and individuals call upon the democratic world and the international community to take a stance against the occupationist efforts of Turkey in Kurdistan and raise their voices and their objections to it.

The Summit of National Stance against Turkey’s occupationist efforts in Kurdistan

27.07.2019 Brussels