13th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON „THE EU, TURKEY, THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE KURDS“
Wednesday 7 & Thursday 8 of January 2016 / European Parliament, Brussels
13th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON „THE EU, TURKEY, THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE KURDS“
Wednesday 7 & Thursday 8 of January 2016 / European Parliament, Brussels
The 13th International Conference „The European Union, Turkey, the Middle East and the Kurds“, was held on the 7th and 8th of December 2016 in the European Parliament. Under the title “Turkey, the Kurds and the war in the Middle East” the participants discussed history, roots and course of the crisis in Middle East and correlated current developments, especially regarding Turkey and Kurdish issues. The conference organized by the EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC) received great attention from various parliamentary groups in the European Parliament. Apart from European United Left / Nordic Green Left, who have been hosting this conference since the very beginning, the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats group, as well as The Greens / European Free Alliance contributed and supported the conference. The Kurdish issue here was therefore reason for cooperation across parliamentary groups. This is not only due to current political developments, but is also a result of the successful work of the Kurdish diaspora and their political actors. The conference drew great attention, which can also be easily seen in a great turn out – more than 300 people filled one of the largest assembly rooms – and the attendance and contribution of Vice-President of the European Parliament Ulrike Lunacek. Already in the run-up to the conference Turkish media outlets, which have been brought into line with the government after the coup attempt on July 15th, ran the headline “EP pays court to PKK”. Speakers as well as moderators, including numerous well-known scientists and politicians, were accused of terrorism, a common approach to critics in despotic regimes.
The conference was opened by EUTCC Chair Prof. Kariane Westrheim, Gabi Zimmer, Chairwomen of European United Left / Nordic Green Left, and Josef Weidenhölzer, Vice-President of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats. They condemned the developments in Turkey and welcomed the decision of the European Parliament to freeze accession negotiations with Turkey. Mr Weidenhölzer highlighted the role of Rojava as a pioneer in the fight against IS and in establishing democratic structures. He demanded more support from Europe. He recalled the responsibilities of Europe regarding to Kurdish question and in this context to the partition of Kurdistan through the Sykes-Picot agreement. Which served as a good transition to the first panel, where historian and sociologist Prof. Hamit Bozarslan presented on “Sykes Picot and the historic roots of the Kurdish conflict”. He too pointed out that Europe in particular has responsibilities with regards to the Kurdish issue; an aspect that was carried as a main theme throughout the entire conference. David Philips, director of the peace-building and human rights program at Columbia University, pressed for the cancellation of the refugee deal with Turkey. The decision taken by the European Parliament to freeze accession talks with Turkey was welcomed by numerous speakers and resolute action of the European council was required.
Freedom for great thinker Abdullah Öcalan
Resolute action is also required in the case of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan. Zübeyir Aydar, member of the Kurdistan National Congress, spoke about serious indications that possibilities are being sought for an execution of Abdullah Öcalan. He requested an urgent intervention by the international community. The latest developments are a result of missing and delayed action. The key position of Abdullah Öcalan for the political solution of Kurdish question, as well as the regional and global affects of a potential execution were also assessed by Simon Dubbin, international director of Britain’s biggest trade union UNITE and executive member of the European Trade Union Confederation. Simon Dubbins emphasized that Öcalan is not only a politician, who is a representative of the Kurdish people, which is seen by 10 Million signatures, but a contemporary philosopher and a great thinker.
Delisting the PKK
Another central aspect of the conference was the claim to delist the PKK as a terrorist organisation. Delisting the PKK from the EU- terror list was seen as an inevitable requirement for the peace process and democracy in Turkey and the Middle East.
Rojava as a solution to the crisis
Related to the issue of democratization in the Middle East the importance of Rojava as well as the recognition of the autonomous region of Rojava/North-Syria was repeatedly underlined. Middle East expert and journalist Fehim Tastekin presented on the links between Turkey and IS, where the latter is seen as a partner in Syria in Turkey’s fight against Rojava and as a motor of Sunni interests in Iraq. He also mentioned the connection to the peace process in Turkey, which would have turned out positively, if Turkey had recognized Rojava. Dr Kamran Martin, Senior Lecturer in International Relations at Sussex University also mentioned the positive impact of Rojava on a long-term peace in the region and called upon the international community to include Kurdish forces in Syrian peace talks. Highlight of this session was the interview of Carne Ross, writer on international affairs in the US, and Jonathan Steele, veteran foreign correspondent and author in UK, with Salih Müslim, the co-president of the PYD. Salih Müslim emphasized that the Kurds’ fight in Syria is a fight for humanity and human values. Rojava is organized plural, secular and gender fair. Therefor it demonstrates a model for future of the Middle East.
Attack on progressive dual leadership
Gender equality is a key characteristic of Kurdish and progressive parties as well as civil society organizations in Turkey, which are working in accordance with gender principals, hence with the system of a dual leadership. This progressive attitude contradicts the backward understanding of Turkish regime and is thereby a target of the system. This very important aspect with regards to the attacks on Kurdish politicians and parties was drafted by co-chair of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP), Kamuran Yüksek.
The struggle continues
Demands for an end of the repressions on Kurdish politicians and for the release of the arrested HDP co-chairs, Figen Yüksekdag and Selahattin Demirtas, who was a panelist at the 12th conference held in the European Parliament, were articulated throughout the entire conference. Their messages, in which they declare the continuation of struggle were read at the opening session and have been responsed with enthusiasm in the audience. The speech of former deputy minister for international relations and member of the African National Congress National executive Committee in South Africa Ebrahim Ebrahim was also part of this session. He delivered a speech that illustrated the longstanding struggle against Apartheid and the parallels between South African figure for freedom Nelson Mandela and Kurdish icon of freedom Abdullah Öcalan.
Important was also that all speeches were translated into Kurdish simultaneously, which proved to be an open message to the on-going restrictions on the Kurdish language in Turkey.
Conclusion
While the previous conferences concluded with wishes for a positive result of the dialogue between Abdullah Öcalan and Turkish government in terms of peace agreement, this year’s final resolution was dominated by warnings regarding the deepening of the conflicts in the Middle East and especially in Turkey. Not only the lines of conflicts were drawn but also concrete demands and options were drafted.
One shame remains
At the 12th international conference in the European Parliament, co-chair of the people’s council of Cizre Mehmet Tunc had delivered a speech. He spoke about the massacres in Cizre and other Kurdish cities. His speech ended with the following call: “Please stop this barbarous act! You are strong enough to hinder the massacre in Cizre. You are strong enough to warn the AKP government and to lift the siege of Cizre. If you fail, you will become accomplice of this massacre.” Two weeks later he was burned alive together with dozens of people by Turkish security forces. We have failed…
Dersim Dagdeviren
Chair of Kurd-Akad, Board member of EUTCC
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
13th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON „THE EU, TURKEY, THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE KURDS“
Wednesday 7 & Thursday 8 of January 2016 / European Parliament, Brussels
TURKEY, THE KURDS AND THE WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST
TURKEY – DEMOCRACY SUSPENDED
ISIS AND THE CRISIS IN THE MIDDLE EAST
THE FINAL RESOLUTION OF THE 13th ANNUAL EUTCC CONFERENCE: KURDISH RECOMMENDATIONS AND DEMANDS
KURDISH DEMAND AND THE DENIAL POLICY
The Kurds believe that their problems can be resolved within the borders of Turkey through dialogue and democratic methods. They wish their national identity to be recognised in the constitution, and to benefit from cultural and political rights safeguarded by international conventions. They also desire a political status through which to attain self-government, as realised in many democratic countries. Failing to accommodate their demands, the Turkish state has not yet abandoned its 93-year-old policy of denial and violence, proving unable to change its mentality.
The conference calls upon Turkey to give up the denial and violence policy and to give the Kurds and all the other ethnical and religious groups a cognitional guarantee.
EUROPEAN BLACKLIST
After the Kurdish Leader Mr Abdullah Öcalan was abducted and handed over to Turkey on 15 February 1999, guerrilla units withdrew to South Kurdistan (Northern Iraq) where they remained for 5 years. Even though they did not fire a single bullet, the Turkish state failed to take advantage of this historic opportunity. While the EU and the US should have been encouraging Turkey to seek a peaceful solution, yet they, at the beginning of 2002, blacklisted the PKK. This encouraged Turkey to return once again to its belligerent approach vis-à-vis the Kurdish question. The Kurds saw this unfortunate decision as a historic injustice that did not help find a peaceful and political solution to their problem.
The Brussels Court’s (41st Kamer [Correctional Raadkamer] on 3 November 2016) recent verdict to the effect that the war in Turkey “… is an armed conflict in the sense of the international humanitarian law” according to the Geneva conventions and Rome Statute
Therefore:
- The PKK should be accepted as a party to the conflict. This reflects the reality about the PKK and
- The PKK should be removed from the “list of terrorist organisations”. This would make a great contribution to peace, opening the way for a political settlement.
PEACE PROCESS
Mr Abdullah Öcalan, who has been jailed for nearly 18 years but accepted by the state as the “main negotiator”, made a proposal that was agreed by the AKP government. Talks were carried on from 2013 until 5 April 2015, resulting in a road map consisting of 10 articles. Its aim was a breakthrough for a democratic republic in Turkey. Even though PKK administrators began preparing for this, on 5 April 2015 Erdogan derailed the process. Therefore, the EUTCC conference:
· Calls for the support of the “Freedom for Öcalan Campaign” launched by the major British trade unions the GMB and UNITE in April 2016, who called for the release of Mr Öcalan as an essential element for a peace process to be successful.
· Calls for restarting the peace process, giving Mr Öcalan be freedom and to have all the freedom to create his negotiations’ team and free contact to his movement.
MR ABDULLAH ÖCALAN UNDER CONSTANT THREAT
Our conference received the information that AKP-MHP circles are discussing the elimination of Mr Abdullah Öcalan. In fact, those discussing this are asking different parties what the results of this action could be. Commentators have also said that the reintroduction of capital punishment being brought onto the agenda to shape public opinion is also within this framework. We do not know how true these claims are. However, we are receiving information that this is being done to prepare the groundwork for Mr Öcalan’s elimination. Any attack on Mr Öcalan will not affect only Kurds and Turkey but will also have an impact on whole world.
· For this reason and urgency, we are calling for immediate sensitivity to this threat of live from primarily the Kurdish people, the EU, relevant international organisations and public opinion to prevent this dangerous situation.
PATTERNS OF REPRESSION AND DESTRUCTION
Failing to achieve its plans in Kurdistan, the AKP government has turned the ‘state of emergency’ into an excellent opportunity to increase attacks on the Kurds. In sharp violation of the rules of war, the government has demolished the Kurdish towns of Cizre, Sur, Nusaybin, Idil, Gever, Silvan and Sirnak, during which process they massacred hundreds of people, forcing 1.5 million to migrate. In addition, in Cizre they burnt 103 civilians alive. In addition, the increased attacks on Kurdish legal politics and political representatives. Among those they arrested are HDP co-chairs Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, DBP co-chair Sebahat Tuncel, KJA spokesperson Ayla Akat Ata, and Amed Municipality co-chairs Gulten Kisanak and Firat Anli. Also, many more municipality and council co-chairs, Central Executive Board and Party Council and party members have been arrested. Therefore, the EUTCC conference:
· Calls for the immediate release of all political prisoners including the HDP co-chairs.
· Calls upon the state to withdraw all trustees and release the co-mayors and other deputies
PURGING THE KURDS AND THE OPPOSITION
After the coup attempt, Erdogan declared a state of emergency and purged all alleged and real opposition, turning Turkey into a vast prison. As the EP (RC8-1276/2016RC8-1276/2016RC8-1276/2016RC8-1276/2016RC8-1276/2016RC8-1276/2016RC8-1276/2016RC8-1276/2016) noted, “[…] whereas these measures are disproportionate and in breach of basic rights and freedoms protected by the Turkish Constitution, of democratic values upon which the EU is founded and of the ICCPR; whereas the authorities have arrested 10 HDP deputies and some 150 journalists (the largest number worldwide); whereas 2,386 judges and prosecutors and 40,000 others are detained; whereas 129,000 public employees either remain suspended (66,000) or dismissed (63,000), most of whom had no charges brought against them (p. 02)”. Furthermore, 7 newspapers, 1 magazine, 1 radio station, and 375 associations have been closed down. In addition, 34 Kurdish mayors have been arrested while 57 municipalities in Kurdish areas have been replaced by the government’s appointed trustees. Turkey’s chief goal behind this wholesale purge is to ensure that the HDP will not pass the election threshold in the upcoming election. Therefore, the EUTCC conference:
- Calls upon Turkey to cease all the attacks on Kurds, the opposition, journalists, students and trade unionists, and to remove the prohibitions on the NGO, newspapers, radio stations, magazines’ and TV stations.
EU AND THEIR VALUES
The fact that human rights and fundamental freedoms are the very heart of the EU is expressed in The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Especially in the preamble the values of peace, human dignity and fundamental freedoms are mentioned as crucial values of the UN and EU. The simple reality is that Turkey is publicly and unashamedly violating all of this. There is no peace as terrorism and even war is imposed on the Kurds. Freedom of press, expression or religion are violated as mentioned by UN Special Rapporteur, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch.
We call on the European Union, the Council of Europe and the United Nations:
·To support democratic forces and new democratic society models for peace in the Middle East;
· to acknowledge the Democratic Self-Administration of Rojava;
· to acknowledge and support the North Syria Federation;
· to start an urgent Humanitarian Aid for the from IS liberated region in close cooperation with the local administration in Rojava;
· to take prompt action to halt the ongoing political coup taking place in their member state, Turkey;
· to follow up their statements of concern about developments in Turkey with decisive and effective measures.
We call on the European Union and the European governments:
To freeze its accession process with Turkey until President Erdogan begins to reverse his attacks on democracy, clamping down on civil and political rights, the shutting down of political organisations and the arrests of hundreds of thousands of people;
· To make it absolutely clear to Erdogan that his suspension of democracy and repression of democratic political opposition must cease immediately;
· to call for the release of all elected politicians, MPs and mayors of the HDP and other parties, who have been detained in the present clampdown, and to reinstate them to the posts to which they were legitimately elected;
· to signal its opposition by withdrawing embassy staff from Turkey to demonstrate clearly that the present authoritarian politics of Erdogan are totally unacceptable;
· to take all the necessary measures to ensure that full democracy and civil rights are restored in Turkey;
· to make it clear to Turkey’s political leaders that their current course poses a great danger to their own country by making it a pariah state, weakening its longstanding alliances and eroding its economic prosperity;
·to condemn strongly the discussion and the intention by the Turkish government on the relaunch of the death penalty;
·to send emergency delegations to visit the imprisoned MPs and mayors of the HDP.
The European Parliament 8 December, 2016