The European Parliament in Brussels hosts the 16the International Conference on “The European Union, Turkey, the Middle East and the Kurds” on the 5th and 6th of February.

The annual conference organised by European Union Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC) in cooperation with the Kurdish Institute of Brussels witnesses the participation of a several political parties and renowned individuals. The conference is supported by European United Left – Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL), the Greens/EFA and Socialists and Democrats (S&D).

The second day of the conference has begun with a panel discussing “The Middle East in The Context of Turkey’s Invasion into North-Eastern Syria / Rojava” moderated by Evin Incir, MEP Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Sweden.

İncir pointed out the international silence on the Turkish invasion of Rojava and the ethnic cleansing in the region, and stressed the importance of conferences of this kind in terms of putting pressure on the EU and member countries.

TURKEY’S EXPANSIONIST ASPIRATIONS

Speaking here, Kirmanc Gundi of the Tennessee State University, US spoke about Turkey’s expansionist aspirations. Gundi stated that the Erdoğan regime has succeeded in growing Turkey outward and is possessed by an Ottoman Empire dream as he speaks of annexing the former Ottoman territories to Turkey. Gundi said this process is taking place in three stages; aid, investment and military intervention.

Gundi told how Turkey infiltrated countries like Libya and Afghanistan under the pretext of providing aid, how it then established relationships through investment and eventually ensured the flow of millions of dollars into the Turkish economy.

“The stronger Turkey’s economy grew, the more furious Erdoğan became. He began to construct military bases in Gulf countries. He managed to build a military base in Qatar for the first time after the fall of the Ottoman Empire.”

“THE RACIST CONSTITUTION OF TURKEY MUST CHANGE FIRST”

According to Gund, Turkey has persistently ignored the fact that the world is changing and failed to accept the fact that the Ottoman Empire is a history. “Turkey is a mosaic but it has continued to experience various conflicts both inside and outside the country because of its racist attitude and language,” he said.

Gundi oıinted out that the racist constitution of Turkey must change in the first place and represent all ethnic identities in order for the achievement of a change. For this to take place, the hypocrisy of the West should come to an end. If the West didn’t approve this aggressive attitude of Turkey, things would not have come to this point. Action must be taken urgently in order for this expansionist policy to end.”

SONDERGAARD: DEMOCRATIZATION OF THE REGION NEEDED

Søren Søndergaard of the Red-Green Alliance, Denmark commented on “The Kurds: Gordion Knot or Central Key”. Remarking that imperialist powers do not want the resolution of the Kurdish question and pointed out a total democratization of the region for the achievement of a solution which -he said- would bring peace to the entire region.

“The progressive advance of the Kurdish movement should be protected. The idea of democratic confederalism should be supported and the war against Rojava should be stopped,” he underlined.

“TURKEY SHOULD PULL BACK AND SANCTIONS SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED”

Speaking about his visit to Rojava, Sondergaard mentioned the attacks of the Turkish state and the evacuated villages, towns and cities due to Turkish invasion.

“If Erdoğan is this much afraid, we could demand a peacekeeping force. Turkey should pull back and we should impose sanctions on Turkey to this end.”

CHAIBI: FRANCE AND EU OWE THE KURDS

MEP Leila Chaibi of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) spoke about the Turkish invasion which -she said- was met with great reactions from France but criticised the French President for only voicing verbal reactions.

Recalling that ISIS attacks in France, Chaibi said; “We know that these attacks were planned in Syria. There would have taken place more attacks if it wasn’t for the struggle of the Kurds in Rojava who paid the greatest price. We as France and EU owe the Kurds in many aspects. We owe them a debt of democracy in the first place. Kurds have put a peaceful model in practice in a conflict zone. The Rojava experience has been a source of inspiration in Europe as well.”

Chaibi said the other aspects were Rojava’s gender-libertarian and ecological mentality, the very values reclaimed also by Europe where these came under attack with the rise of authoritarian governments and deterioration of rights.

Remarking that the struggle of Kurdish women was global, Chaibi said; “Our mission is to make your struggle ours.”

ÇETİN: KURDS DON’T GET THE SUPPORT THEY DESERVE

Kurdish journalist Ferda Çetin from Belgium stressed that the Kurds do not receive the support they deserve as he pointed out the lack of pratical support in international arena.

In a detailed evaluation of ISIS, Çetin said ISIS still constitutes a danger as there are dozens of ISIS members all around the world today.

Çetin said; “ISIS is a movement that knows and uses very well the socio-cultural dynamics in the Middle East, and the traditions and habits built by Islam.”

Pointing out the countries where ISIS organises, and their relations with Europe, Çetin said ISIS and al-Qaeda develop in the power domain supported by Europe. He stated that these organisations are also against the West, Jews and women, and that ISIS members join the organisation knowing these realities.

For the struggle against ISIS, Çetin underlined the need for the existence of a local movement that knows ISIS and the Middle East well.

“While ISIS promises heaven in the afterlife, there is a need for a movement that promises a heaven in that very geography, and this movement is the PKK.

Çetin stressed the fact that the U.S. labels the PKK “terrorist” while it has talks with the Taliban and al-Qaeda.

The Kurdish journalist recalled that Trump considers the PKK as more dangerous than ISIS and said this is a intersystem conflict.

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