Şewra Gelê Kurd co-chair and parliamentarian Kınyas Hasanov who represents Kurdish institutions in Armenia, Kurdistan Committee co-chair Silo Dırboyan and KNK member Jenya Qadır representing the Free Women's Union participated in the press conference in Yerevan, Armenia. The conference denouncing Turkey’s invasion attacks and expansionist policies took place at the HAYACK press centre at 12:00 local time.

In a joint statement made at the conference, the participants pointed to the isolation imposed on Kurdish Leader Abdullah Öcalan, saying: “For us, the Kurdish people, our leader Abdullah Öcalan has a great meaning. We cannot talk about the freedom of the peoples of the region, especially the Kurdish people, unless the leader is free. The reports of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) mention the aggravated isolation on Öcalan. We call on the CPT and human rights institutions and organizations to fulfil their responsibilities.”

The participants addressed the Turkish state’s recent invasion attacks against Medya Defense Zones in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq) and its overall expansionist policies, stating the following:

“We condemn the aggression of the fascist Turkish state on Medya Defense Zones and salute the guerrilla resistance. The date of the attack is not a coincidence. It was launched on April 24, the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. It means, ‘We will put the Kurdish people through genocide like the Armenian people’. Furthermore, Turkey’s latest military operation is an invasion attack against South Kurdistan. The Kurdistan Region administration ignores this fact for their narrow interests. We urge all powers in Kurdistan to act together against these invasion attacks of the fascist Turkish state on the basis of national unity. At the same time, chemical weapons were used in these attacks. We call on the international community to investigate the claims.”

The fascist Turkish state has Ottomanist-Turanist dreams. In recent years it has been intervening in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Crimea and Karabakh-Armenia. The Turkish state is dangerous not only for the Kurds, but for the entire region and their peoples. The states and peoples of the region should also take this reality into account and act together to frustrate these expansionist policies of the fascist Turkish state.

The fascist Turkish state is the biggest obstacle to the freedom of the peoples as well as to the freedom of women. In this regard, we call on the women of all peoples to stand in solidarity and unity with the Kurdish women who are fighting against the fascist Turkish state.

The Kurdish and Armenian people have co-existed throughout history. There is no problem between us. The Ottomans and their successor, the fascist Turkish state, have always wanted to destroy us. It has committed large-scale massacres. It has also carried out dirty special war policies in order to break the unity of our peoples. Our Leader has made us aware of this reality and showed the way to get rid of it. The fascist Turkish state is the common enemy of our peoples. We need to act together more than ever.”