An Kurdistan En Uruguay event was organised by Kurdish Women's Movement to mark the Kurdish New Year festival Newroz. The event was also supported by Uruguay Parliament Women's Group and many other institutions.

Deputies, politicians, academics, artists, press members as well as representatives of human rights organisations, democratic mass organisations and unions attended a reception to welcome the Newroz. During the event at MUMI/Montevideo Migration Museum's garden, Newroz fire was lit for the first time in Uruguay. Kurdish artist Sosin gave a concert during the event, the participants of which were offered Kurdish cuisine by Uruguay's most famous chef Nicolas de Maria.
Kurdish Women's Movement Representative for Latin America, Melike Yaşar, Montevideo Mayor Varela Ubal, Chef Nicolas de Maria and organisation team member Mehmet Tarhan held speeches here.

“WE SALUTE THE RESISTANCE”

Kurdish Women's Movement Representative for Latin America, Melike Yaşar started her speech by greeting all those who organised and supported the Newroz event, and told about the history of Newroz and its importance for the Kurds.

Yaşar said: “This event in Uruguay is important for not us alone, but also for all the Kurdish people and the Kurdish Freedom Movement. With the Kurdistan en Uruguay event, we try to introduce the Kurds and all other peoples in Kurdistan geography. What matters more than the introduction of the Kurdish people to international institutions is the peoples knowing and embracing one other. The struggle we are giving today aims to rebuild this co-existence, which is called Democratic Confederalism.

To us, Newroz is the festival of peoples' co-existence. It is also a celebration of resistance for the Kurds. A folk under oppression and persecution in Turkey and Kurdistan are celebrating Newroz as a day of resistance today. This is also a call for peace. The Uruguay people celebrating Newroz and joining the halay of brotherhood will be a support to the Kurdish people and their call for peace.”

Yaşar remarked that the month of March was of importance also for March 8 International Working Women's Day, stressing that the Kurdish Freedom Struggle led by the Kurdish Women's Movement gave hope to all the oppressed peoples in the Middle East and the world today.

VARELA: WE ARE IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE KURDISH PEOPLE

Speaking after, Montevideo Mayor Başkanı Carlos Varela stated that the organisation of this event under the lead of Kurdish women was of great importance for the people of Uruguay where gender equality has yet to be achieved.

"Throughout history, the system endeavored to determine whom we will embrace and whom we won't. As the people of Uruguay, we need to embrace one another with other peoples. For this reason, we will continue showing solidarity with other peoples, as we stand in solidarity with the Kurdish people on occasion of today's Newroz. Peoples can get know to each other by uniting and sharing without fear, not through the agreements and protocols signed by foreign ministers. For us it is quite pleasing to share this day with the Kurdish people because living is sharing things."

Following the speeches, the first Newroz fire was lit by Kurdish artist Sosin and MUMI/Montevideo Migration Museum director Irene Cabrera, after which the Kurds and Uruguayans attending the event joined a Kurdish traditional dance halay as young people jumped over the Newroz fire.

The event continued with the concert of Kurdish artist Sosin who was watched with interest by the Uruguayans listening to Kurdish music for the first time in their lives. After the concert, the guest left to meet again at next year's Newroz.