A DTK and HDP delegation held a press conference on Thursday following their talks with KCK, PUK and KDP executives on national unity and the formation of a joint defence force during their 3 day visit to the Federal Kurdistan Region. The delegation reported that all the parties concerned declared their willingness for a common dialogue.

The delegation, composed of DTK co-chair Selma Irmak, HDP co-chairs Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, HDP Mardin deputy Erol Dora, HDP Van deputy Nazmi Gur, co-chair of Europe Yezidi Confederation Leyla Ferman and Mardin co-mayor Ahmet Turk, held a press conference in the Hewler (Erbil) office of the DBP before they departed for Rojava. The delegation reported that they had talks with KCK, PUK and the KDP executives regarding Kurdish national unity, the formation of a joint defence force and the situation of Sinjar and Nineveh, adding that the talks were hopeful as all the parties were willing to pursue a common dialogue.

Speaking first at the press conference, Mardin co-mayor and former co-chair of DTK, Ahmet Turk, pointed out that the attacks on the Kurds could well continue unless the Kurds build national unity and said: “We, as the politicians struggling in North Kurdistan, call on all the political forces in the four parts of Kurdistan to leave aside internal conflicts and problems and to engage in dialogue in such an important process”. Turk also warned against the possible harmful effects of provocative language used in some Kurdish media, adding that the Kurdish forces must develop a direct dialogue rather than giving messages to each other throug media organs. Turk emphasised that common sense and common diplomatic relations based on dialogue and unity are needed as well as expected by the Kurdish people.

Speaking next, the co-chair of DTK, Selma Irmak. stressed that all the parties they had met gave messages of dialogue that was hopeful for them and added that there is a fruitful basis to develop a process of dialogue and for the building of national unity in the future. Drawing attention to the human tragedy in Sinjar and Nineveh, Irmak warned that the same tragedy could be repeated in Kirkuk, Hewler, Rojava or Amed if national unity among the Kurds and the formation of a joint defence force are not achieved.

Irmak particularly stressed the need for urgent and joint initiatives for the clarification of the political status of Sinjar and Nineveh in order to prevent further attacks and to secure the rescue of the Yezidi women abducted by ISIS, adding that the parties they have talked to have no problem in acting jointly, but lack a dialogue in order to accomplish this.

The co-chair of the HDP, Selahattin Demirtas, also stressed the willingness for a dialogue that all the parties had declared, adding that the common struggle of all the armed Kurdish forces and the Kurdish political powers and the joint defence of Kurdistan are also the demand of the Kurdish people.

Demirtas said “The joint struggle and the feeling of unity created at the war front must also find its reflection in the political field. The political parties should turn this unity at the front into a political unity in the line of the expectations and the demands of the people”. Demirtas also said communication via the media organs could be harmful at this period, adding that the spokespersons and the executives of all the political forces, movements and organisations must be attentive and sensitive to this issue and to develop face to face dialogue in order to solve internal problems as well as creating the possibilities for joint action.

Demirtas added that they were happy to see that all the parties were open to a dialogue and in fact are in need of a dialogue for the solution of the problems adding that their visit and the meetings were to serve to open new channels for mutual talks. Demirtas said the lack of a dialogue between various Kurdish powers render the Kurdish people more vulnerable to ISIS attacks and stressed that the measures to be taken against ISIS must be decided jointly.

Demirtas emphasised that joint decisions must urgently be taken in unity in order for the defence of Sinjar and the return of the people of Sinjar to their own lands in a secure way.

Answering a question about the recent alliance between the People’s Defence Forces (YPG) of West Kurdistan and the Free Syrian Army against ISIS, Demirtas said it was a positive development, adding that if the enemy they struggle against is the same a joint struggle proves to be necessary. Demirtas said he hoped that these kinds of alliances develop further to stop ISIS.

Completing their talks with the political forces and figures in the Federal Kurdistan Region, the delegation stayed the night in Duhok before departing for Rojava to hold talks with the authorities of the Cizire (Jazireh) Canton.