Ahmad Qaramous: Preparations underway for UN application on Kurdish status

On June 6–7, the 24th General Assembly of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) was held in Venlo, the Netherlands, under the slogan "Democratic National Unity." During the congress, several important strategic decisions were adopted, most notably the decision to submit a request to the United Nations seeking recognition of the Kurdish people as a nation and granting them observer status.

KNK Co-Chair Ahmad Qaramous spoke to our agency about the decisions adopted by the congress, particularly the initiative to apply to the United Nations regarding the legal status of the Kurdish people. He also addressed the recent tensions among political parties in Rojava.

Qaramous explained that preparations are underway for a special meeting to follow up on the UN initiative, stating:

"This is a national project concerning the existence of the Kurdish people. In the coming months, we will hold a broad meeting involving all parties and organizations, and we expect between 350 and 500 participants. The meeting will discuss only one item: the Kurdistan National Congress's decision to submit an application seeking recognition of the Kurdish people's status and granting them observer status for stateless peoples under the umbrella of the United Nations."

The Kurdistan National Congress recently held its latest congress. How do you assess its outcomes? What was the atmosphere of the meeting? What were the most significant strategic decisions adopted? And what plans and mechanisms have been prepared to implement those decisions?

The current political, geopolitical, and geostrategic developments, together with the ongoing war in the Middle East, represent in essence a global conflict, with Kurdistan at its center amid the region's overlapping conflicts, challenges, and crises.

For this reason, we did not view the 24th General Assembly as merely a conference to discuss internal issues and make decisions. Rather, we sought to make it a comprehensive national platform.

In terms of preparation and participation, the meeting was not limited to KNK members and delegates. We also invited many academics, politicians, and prominent national figures, transforming the General Assembly into a broad national consultation forum. Our aim was to create a platform representing all four parts of Kurdistan, as well as Kurdish communities in the diaspora, to collectively assess the current stage.

Extensive and in-depth discussions were held on a wide range of issues, particularly political assessments concerning the situation in Kurdistan and the risks and opportunities facing it.

The Kurdish people face broad and numerous challenges across all parts of Kurdistan and in the diaspora. Therefore, we gave these issues special attention and devoted considerable time to discussing them.

In this context, achieving Kurdish unity and coordination emerged as the highest priority for safeguarding the Kurdish people's achievements.

We believe that confronting the challenges and making use of the available opportunities can only be achieved through Kurdish unity. If Kurds successfully capitalize on opportunities across the four parts of Kurdistan and in the diaspora, this will, in my view, be the most necessary course of action.

For this reason, we decided to organize a comprehensive national conference, and our current efforts are focused on preparing the necessary groundwork for holding it in the coming period.

One of the congress's main objectives was to seek recognition of the Kurdish people's status at the United Nations and submit a formal application to that effect. What steps have been taken since then? What diplomatic and political plans are you pursuing in this regard?

One of the fundamental realities at the present stage is that the Kurdish issue is no longer an internal matter concerning a single state; it has become an issue with an international dimension. Given its existence and demographic size, it is natural that the Kurdish people should enjoy internationally recognized legal status.

In this context, the Foreign Relations Committee of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) prepared a proposal to submit an application to the United Nations seeking observer status for the Kurdish people under the UN framework. The congress approved this initiative and formally adopted it.

We consider this decision to be of great strategic and political importance, and therefore attach special significance to it. A specialized committee has been established, bringing together political and diplomatic figures, experts in international law, and specialists in international treaties and conventions. Its task is to prepare the application and fulfill all the legal and procedural requirements necessary for this request. Work is currently underway to expand and strengthen this committee.

It is clear that a project of this scale cannot be accomplished simply by submitting an application or sending an official letter. It requires broad, sustained diplomatic, political, and legal efforts.

Precedents in this area are extremely limited. To date, the only case granted such status has been the State of Palestine. The Kurdish issue, however, in terms of population, geographic reach, geopolitical and geostrategic significance, represents a highly important factor in the Middle East. Moreover, the Kurdish question—considering its territory, population, history, and struggle—is broader and more complex than the Palestinian experience in many respects. The Kurdish people remain the largest nation in the world without internationally recognized legal status or official international representation.

We regard the application for recognition of the Kurdish people's status and the granting of UN observer status as a strategic, historic, and significant step. Accordingly, we call on all Kurdish political parties, organizations, and public figures across the four parts of Kurdistan, as well as Kurdish communities in the diaspora, to support the Kurdistan National Congress in this endeavor.

The KNK is also working to expand this committee and strengthen its mandate. Additional specialized committees and bodies are expected to be established in the coming period to support the project.

This is a national project directly linked to the existence and future of the Kurdish people. In the coming months, we will hold a broad meeting involving all parties and organizations, with an expected attendance of between 350 and 500 participants. The meeting will be devoted entirely to one agenda item: the KNK's decision to submit an application seeking recognition of the Kurdish people and granting them observer status for stateless peoples under the umbrella of the United Nations. No other issue will be discussed.

Rojava is undergoing an important political phase, and Kurdish parties are seeking to adopt a unified position in dealing with Damascus. However, strong political unity has yet to be achieved. How do you explain this weakness? What role is the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) playing in bringing Kurdish parties closer together and building a unified political position in Rojava?

We consider what the Kurdish people experienced at the beginning of this year to be a genuine tragedy, and it is essential to address this issue objectively and rationally. The people of Rojava have paid an enormous price, with thousands of martyrs and wounded, waves of displacement, and severe social suffering. The achievements realized in Rojava came only after immense sacrifices. Unfortunately, regional and international political developments have created a new reality in which the Kurdish people face fresh tragedies and challenges.

The Kurds of Rojava should have been able to confront these challenges through unity, guided by national responsibility and a collective commitment to preserving their national identity and existence as a people. Unfortunately, the political parties and organizations did not act with the level of responsibility that the situation required.

On 26 April 2025, the Kurdish Unity Conference was held. Its decisions and the position it adopted gave the Kurdish people hope and a broad vision for the future. The conference could have become a turning point in strengthening national awareness and consolidating unity. Unfortunately, the political parties and organizations in Rojava did not deal with its outcomes with the necessary sense of responsibility.

We direct clear criticism at these forces because they failed to fulfill their national duties and ignored the decisions adopted at that conference. Today, each side is acting independently, which has deepened confusion and disagreements and contributed to the continuation of the tragedy in Rojava. This mindset and style of political work are among the principal reasons why the situation has reached its current state.

Had the Kurdish people and their political forces acted from the outset with a spirit of unity, national consciousness, and a common national strategy aimed at protecting the higher interests of the Kurdish people—and had there been genuine commitment to implementing that vision—Rojava would not have experienced these tragedies on such a scale.

Today, the political forces in Rojava are in a state of neglect. National and collective concerns are being marginalized, while partisan, factional, and personal interests have taken precedence—interests that do not reflect the magnitude of the sacrifices made by the Kurdish people.

Therefore, despite the time that has already been lost, we renew our call on all political forces in Rojava to move immediately toward joint action and the unification of their ranks in service of the supreme national interest.

ANHA