{"id":90,"date":"2016-12-27T15:42:17","date_gmt":"2016-12-27T14:42:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/wordpress562\/2016\/12\/27\/13th-eutcc-conference\/"},"modified":"2021-04-06T23:18:12","modified_gmt":"2021-04-06T21:18:12","slug":"13th-eutcc-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kurd-akad.com\/?p=90","title":{"rendered":"13th EUTCC-Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"

13th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON „THE EU, TURKEY, THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE KURDS“<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Wednesday 7 & Thursday 8 of January 2016 \/ European Parliament, Brussels <\/span><\/p>\n

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13th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON „THE EU, TURKEY, THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE KURDS“<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Wednesday 7 & Thursday 8 of January 2016 \/ European Parliament, Brussels <\/span><\/p>\n

The 13th International Conference \u201eThe European Union, Turkey, the Middle East and the Kurds\u201c, was held on the 7th<\/sup> and 8th<\/sup> of December 2016 in the European Parliament. Under the title \u201cTurkey, the Kurds and the war in the Middle East\u201d the participants discussed history, roots and course of the crisis in Middle East and correlated current developments, especially regarding Turkey and Kurdish issues. <\/span>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 \u2013 more than 300 people filled one of the largest assembly rooms \u2013 and the attendance and contribution of Vice-President of the European Parliament Ulrike Lunacek. <\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>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<\/sup>, ran the headline \u201cEP pays court to PKK\u201d. Speakers as well as moderators, including numerous well-known scientists and politicians, were accused of terrorism, a common approach to critics in despotic regimes. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The conference was opened by EUTCC Chair Prof. Kariane Westrheim, Gabi Zimmer, Chairwomen of European United Left \/ Nordic Green Left, and Josef Weidenh\u00f6lzer, 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 Weidenh\u00f6lzer 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 \u201cSykes Picot and the historic roots of the Kurdish conflict\u201d. 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. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Freedom for great thinker Abdullah \u00d6calan<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Resolute action is also required in the case of PKK leader Abdullah \u00d6calan. Z\u00fcbeyir Aydar, member of the Kurdistan National Congress, spoke about serious indications that possibilities are being sought for an execution of Abdullah \u00d6calan. 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 \u00d6calan 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\u2019s biggest trade union UNITE and executive member of the European Trade Union Confederation. Simon Dubbins emphasized that \u00d6calan 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. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Delisting the PKK<\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0Another 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. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Rojava as a solution to the crisis <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0Related 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\u2019s 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 M\u00fcslim, the co-president of the PYD. Salih M\u00fcslim emphasized that the Kurds\u2019 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Attack on progressive dual leadership\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

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 Y\u00fcksek. <\/span><\/p>\n

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The struggle continues<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0Demands for an end of the repressions on Kurdish politicians and for the release of the arrested HDP co-chairs, Figen Y\u00fcksekdag and Selahattin Demirtas, who was a panelist at the 12th<\/sup> 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 \u00d6calan.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Important 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.<\/p>\n

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Conclusion<\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0While the previous conferences concluded with wishes for a positive result of the dialogue between Abdullah \u00d6calan and Turkish government in terms of peace agreement, this year\u2019s 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. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/b>One shame remains<\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0At the 12th international conference in the European Parliament, co-chair of the people\u2019s 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: \u201cPlease 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.\u201d Two weeks later he was burned alive together with dozens of people by Turkish security forces. We have failed<\/span>\u2026<\/p>\n

Dersim Dagdeviren
Chair of Kurd-Akad, Board member of EUTCC<\/strong><\/p>\n

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……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..<\/span><\/p>\n

13th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON „THE EU, TURKEY, THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE KURDS“<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Wednesday 7 & Thursday 8 of January 2016 \/ European Parliament, Brussels <\/span><\/p>\n

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TURKEY, THE KURDS AND THE WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST
TURKEY \u2013 DEMOCRACY SUSPENDED
ISIS AND THE CRISIS IN THE MIDDLE EAST<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

THE FINAL RESOLUTION OF THE 13th<\/sup> ANNUAL EUTCC CONFERENCE: KURDISH RECOMMENDATIONS AND DEMANDS<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

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\u00a0<\/span><\/b>KURDISH DEMAND AND THE DENIAL POLICY<\/span><\/p>\n

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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.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0The 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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EUROPEAN BLACKLIST<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0After the Kurdish Leader Mr Abdullah \u00d6calan 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-\u00e0-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. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0The Brussels Court\u2019s (41st Kamer [Correctional Raadkamer] on 3 November 2016) recent verdict to the effect that the war in Turkey \u201c\u2026 <\/span>is an armed conflict in the sense of the international humanitarian law<\/span>\u201d according to the <\/span>Geneva conventions and Rome Statute<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Therefore:<\/span><\/p>\n