At the invitation of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK), representatives of various parties and civil society organizations from the Kurdish spectrum met in Brussels over the weekend to discuss the current political situation under the impression of Turkey's campaign of destruction in Kurdistan. "With Turkey's recent breach of international law in the southern part of Kurdistan, the strengthening of intra-Kurdish unity has become an existential issue on the agenda of our political forces," said Ahmet Karamus, co-chair of the KNK, explaining the background to the meeting. Differing interests must be put aside once and for all, he said. "What is important now is to develop a common stance. This is the only way we can prevent Kurdish achievements from being destroyed," Karamus stressed.

Nilüfer Koç of the KNK Executive Council pointed to the new global great power games and stressed that Turkey's occupation attacks should be evaluated within the current geopolitical balance of power. "With the Russian attack on Ukraine, the Turkish state is currently reconsidering its anchoring in the West. Therefore, Ankara hardly needs to fear criticism in its new war of expansion in Southern Kurdistan, as the Turkish state is still needed by the West in the slipstream of the invasion in Ukraine," Koç said.

KDP the only party not represented

Numerous parties and organizations from all parts of Kurdistan took part in the discussion, including the PUK (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan) and the Gorran movement from the south, the PJAK (Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan) from the east, the Kongra-Gel People's Congress, Yazidi groups, the Kurdish women's movement and the representation of the Alevi community in Central Anatolia. Only the KDP (Kurdistan Democratic Party), which is participating in the war in southern Kurdistan launched on April 17, did not show up despite an invitation. Its sister party from Syria (KDP-S), on the other hand, was present.

Kartal: The West is an actor in this war

"The KDP, which is dominated by the Barzanî family, is collaborating with the Turkish state," said Kurdish politician and Kongra-Gel co-chair Remzi Kartal. This collaboration continues despite a "total campaign of destruction" by the leadership in Ankara against Kurdish society, he added. "In its pursuit of hegemony rather than demanding governance and representation, the KDP is turning a blind eye to the genocide of Kurds." The international community also remains silent despite the war of aggression and the use of chemical weapons, Kartal continued. "Thus, the West not only makes itself co-responsible for the Turkish war of annihilation against our people, it is also an actor. To break this collective silence, the voice of the Kurds must become even louder. We must strengthen our resistance. But this will only work if all Kurdish movements unite."

Declaration to be announced

A declaration on the common stance of Kurdish forces against Turkey's attacks in Kurdistan will be presented in the coming days, Ahmet Karamus announced and remarked that this roadmap could provide a stable framework for overcoming intra-Kurdish conflicts.