The congress started following a minute’s silence for the martyrs of freedom, revolution and socialism.

Derya Varan gave the opening speech on the HDK-A Stuttgart Assembly in the name of the council.

Varan said the Peoples’ Democratic Congress-Europe (HDK-A) continued its work to strenghten the union of Freedom and Democracy Forces and held this meeting in Stuttgart following a month-long effort.

In the Founding Assembly meeting, writer Metin Ayçiçek, among the HDK-A Germany Initiative spokespersons, gave a speech and emphasized that the Stuttgart Assembly should be involved with both the problems in Kurdistan and Turkey, and the local and immigrant peoples in Stuttgart. Ayçiçek said the HDK-A and the Democratic United Forces Platform should not be pitted against each other, it was a necessity for them to work together, and that the HDK-A had an all-encompassing structure that goes beyond the role and the mission of the Democratic United Forces Platform.

Ali Gürsu speaking on behalf of Nav-Dem, Aynur Karakaya speaking individually and speakers from the SYKP gave informing speeches on the Stuttgart Assembly efforts they had been carrying out for a month.

A speech on behalf of the MLPD declared that they supported the HDK-A Stuttgart Assembly and wished them success in their endeavors.

STUTTGART ASSEMBLY ELECTED

Following the speeches by the assembly members and a Q&A session, elections for the HDK-A Stuttgart Assembly were held. Aynur Karakaya, Derya Varan, Safiye İşcan, Ayfer Ber, Gülten Yılmaz, Necati Akın, Ali Gürsu, Necati Abay and Orhan Güllü were elected to the 9-person (5 women and 4 men) executive council.

In the first Executive council meeting following the Founding Assembly, Aynur Karakaya and Ali Gürsu were elected as the co-spokespersons of the HDK-A Stuttgart Assembly.