Armenians call for Kurdish unity and international protection for region's components

Amid increasing calls for Kurdish unity, especially with the rapidly changing situation in Syria, the Armenian Social Council issued a statement to the public.

The statement was read by the Advisor to the Armenian Councils in North and East Syria, Imad Tatrian, in the presence of dozens of members of the Armenian Social Council in Hasaka.

The statement reads as follows:

"To Kurdish political parties, political movements, and globally Influential states

In the name of the Armenian people and the Armenian Social Council, we address you today at a critical and decisive stage for the Kurdish people and their just cause. Over the years, the Kurdish people, particularly in Syria, and more broadly in Turkey and Iran, have endured a series of injustices and violations, starting with discriminatory policies targeting their cultural, political, and social rights, followed by marginalization and exclusion policies, leading to forced mass displacement and worsening humanitarian suffering caused by wars in the region. Despite this suffering, the Kurdish people have remained resilient against terrorism orchestrated by Turkey through ISIS and radical organizations.

We all know that the Turkish fascist state aims to divide Kurdish unity to eliminate them and then target other components. We, the Armenian people, still carry the trauma of the genocide suffered by our ancestors in 1915. With the same hostile mindset, the Turkish state seeks revenge against the Kurdish people and their allies for the following reasons:

-Their fight against global terrorism, standing on the frontlines against ISIS in Syria and Iraq.

-The Kurds' immense sacrifices in lives and property to protect humanity, establish peace and freedom, and extend their role beyond merely defending their regions.

-They offered thousands of martyrs, some of the best Kurdish youth, men, and women, to defend Syrian territories in Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, and Manbij for the stability of Syria, the region, and the world.

-They contributed to peacebuilding by fostering coexistence among diverse communities and supporting societies torn apart by war.

-They fought extremist forces in Kobani, offering hundreds of martyrs alongside their brothers in the Peshmerga forces.

Following the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, their cause faces enormous challenges at local, regional, and international levels. The geopolitical changes in the region and the numerous local and regional actors involved in the Syrian conflict have created an extremely complex political landscape.

Their just cause faces threats to their identity and existence, with attempts to deny constitutional recognition, enforce forced displacement, demographic change, marginalization, and exclusion in peace processes and negotiations. Moreover, organized hate campaigns targeting the Kurdish people persist. In the absence of a unified vision and cohesive political representation, effectively confronting these challenges becomes even more difficult. This necessitates that Kurdish political forces stand united, intensify their efforts, and work toward their people’s legitimate aspirations.

On behalf of the Armenian people, we appeal to both leader Masoud Barzani and General Mazloum Abdi to unite the Kurdish ranks, foster rapprochement, and end political disagreements. We also send a message to the United States, France, and Britain, countries with global influence, to facilitate a solution, uphold the rights of peoples, and protect the Kurdish people and their regions as a priority, while also safeguarding us as Armenians and the rest of the region's components. These nations must stand against anyone attempting to disrupt the safety and security of the region's peoples.

Finally, the new Syrian government led by Mr. Ahmed Al-Sharaa is urged to ensure the representation of the region’s peoples in managing the state, government, and the country’s new constitution through decentralization. We emphasize the need to move away from the exclusionary and marginalizing policies of the previous regime and to adopt a clear stance against occupations that threaten civil peace in Syria while combating terrorism."

A-H

ANHA