The European Kurdish Democratic Societies Congress (KCDK-E) and the Kurdish Women's Movement (TJK-E) made a joint statement in front of the European Parliament in Brussels earlier today in response to the ‘Call for Peace and Democratic Society’ announced by the Kurdish leader through the DEM Party İmralı Delegation on 27 February. Öcalan emphasized the need for democratic politics and called on the PKK to lay down arms and dissolve itself.

KCDK-E and TJK-E said they would mobilize with all their strength to make peace possible and elevate their struggle as democratic Kurdish community organizations in Europe for the realization of democracy and peace.

Following the declaration by KCDK-E and TJK-E, Kurdish cultural movements in Europe, TEV-ÇAND Europe and Hunera Mizgîn also made a press statement and announced their support for the process.

Hozan Hekim Sefkan, who made the statement on behalf of members of the cultural movement, said, “We, as the democratic cultural movement and Mizgîn cultural movement, are here with our people and we have participated in the decision they announced.”

Hakim Sefkan said, “Now our burden is heavier than ever. Leader Apo [Abdullah Öcalan] said that he had taken full responsibility. Now we need to lighten this burden and take on this burden all over Europe. We are aware that peace is more difficult to achieve than war.”

Following the statement, the artists sang the song “Hoy hoy Apê me” and chanted the slogan “Bijî Serok Apo” [Long Live Leader Öcalan].