Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) held its second exclusive meeting this year. After a gathering for Afrin and determination of national attitude in March, the Kurdish organizations have met this time against the US decision to put a bounty on PKK executives Cemil Bayık, Murat Karayılan and Duran Kalkan.

Kurdish representatives evaluated the Turkish state’s invasion threats and attack on Makhmur at the Press Club Brussels.

The meeting was attended by over 100 people from around 50 parties and organizations.

Speaking to ANF before the meeting, KNK Executive Council member Zübeyir Aydar said the meeting also received support from some other parties that are not present there, adding that as many as 82 parties and organizations approved the national attitude determined.

ONLY KDP NOT PRESENT

It grabbed attention that only the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) did not attend the meeting where almost all parties represented in East, North, West and South Kurdistan ensured participation or conveyed their support through their messages.

Among the parties attending the meeting from four parts of Kurdistan are Kongra-Gel, PJAK, KODAR, PUK, PYD, Komele, Parti Sosyalisti Demokrati Kurdistan, El Parti Demoqrati Kurd, Partiya Komunista Kurdistan, Partiya Çep a Kurd li Suriya, Partiya Kesk a Kurdistan, Hizbi Komunisti Krekari Kurdistan, in addition to civil society organizations such as HDK-Europe, KCDK-E, TJK-E, PKAN, FEDA, Tev-Çand, Enstituya Kurdi, KOMAW, Kurdipedia.

Holding the opening speech of the meeting, KNK Executive Council member Zübeyir Aydar pointed out that the US made “an unjust decision” on November 6th to put a bounty on PKK executives Cemil Bayık, Murat Karayılan and Duran Kalkan.

Aydar said they have met for a national attitude and said they hoped this meeting would issue a joint declaration expressing a national stance and an open letter to the US.

Referring to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s invasion threat against Rojava, and the following air strikes on Makhmur and Shengal only one day after, Aydar stressed that “the gains of Rojava must be protected”.

Aydar noted that they hoped to make a decision “as the conscience of Kurdistan people” at the meeting.

“THE TURKISH STATE CONSTITUTES A FASCIST THREAT”

KNK Co-chair Rebwar Reshid, an organizer of the meeting, held the first speech in which he stressed that two of the three PKK executives targeted by the US decision were members of the KNK, and that all the three PKK executives dedicated their entire life to the cause for Kurdish freedom.

Highlighting the Turkish state’s threats and attacks, Reshid condemned the most recent attacks on Makhmur and Shengal. He underlined that the Turkish state constitutes a fascist threat for each part of Kurdistan. Remarking that these attacks are no success for Erdoğan, he said the Turkish regime is in a difficult situation, in both military and political aspect.

KARTAL: KURDS MUST STOP THIS BARGAIN

Speaking after, Kongra-Gel Co-chair Remzi Kartal said this meeting is of great importance and should send a joint message against the US decision.

Kartal called attention to the Turkish state’s attacks, saying; “We condemn the UN silence on the Turkish attack against Makhmur. An attack was carried out on Kurdistan lands in front of the whole world. Silence in this regard is a heavy situation for the Kurdish people.”

Kongra-Gel Co-chair put emphasis on the importance of conveying a message against this situation as the voice of the Kurdish people and continued; “The Turkish state crossed the border 300 km and attacked the refugee camp. This attack was carried out in the form of an alliance, prearranged with the US and the International Coalition. This is not a new bargain, it has actually been carried out over the Kurds for a hundred years. This bargain must be stopped and Kurds must unite their voice to this end. Kurdistan politics needs to make a joint decision.”

PUK REPRESENTATIVE: A POLITICAL ATTITUDE MUST BE ADOPTED

Speaking on behalf of PUK, Şêx Şemal said the Turkish attack on Makhmur is definitively unacceptable, and continued; “This is an attack against all Kurdish circles and it must be condemned vehemently.”

Remarking that Makhmur is no military camp but a refugee camp, Şemal questioned the role of Kurdistan Regional Government’s role in this incident. He underlined that the Turkish state will achieve no results through attacks, adding; “No matter how much they kill the Kurds, the Kurdish question cannot be solved through these methods. It is only possible through a democratic process and dialogue. They can achieve no results without negotiations.”

Speaking on behalf of Hizbi Demokrati Kurdistan, Xalid Hesenpur pointed out that the US decision to put a bounty on the leading cadres of the PKK had an impact on the Kurdish people and targeted not only the Kurdish people as a whole but also democratization. He called on the US Department of State to revoke the decision which -he added- influenced not only PKK but the entire Kurdish politics.

PYD: INTERNATIONAL COALITION SHOULD REVIEW ITS ATTITUDE

Şêrwan Hesen on behalf of the PYD condemned the US decision and criticized the International Coalition’s silence on Turkish attacks which prevails despite the alliance.

“The International Coalition should review its attitude. Using the weapons of NATO, Turkey is attacking our people, targeting the refugees”, said PYD’s Hesen.