Politician urges Turkey to engage in serious peace dialogue

In this context, Hussein Hamid, a member of the Central Committee of the Kurdish Leftist Party in Syria, stated that for over a century, the Turkish state has sought to eliminate Kurdish existence. During the post–World War I partition agreements, the Kurds were denied their rights in their homeland.

He added: “After 1978, the Kurdish issue reemerged on the international stage with the founding of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Many Turkish politicians and political movements reacted with hostility toward this development. As a result of the oppression, persecution, and repression by the Turkish authorities, the Kurdish people rose up and declared armed struggle. In response, the Turkish state directed its anger at the Kurdish people and their political movements.”

Hamid pointed out that leader Abdullah Ocalan has launched several peace initiatives over the years, but the Turkish authorities have not shown seriousness in any of them, leading to renewed cycles of war.

He added: “Today, the Turkish authorities still do not approach leader Ocalan’s recent initiative for peace and a democratic society with genuine intent, despite all the steps taken by the PKK and the Kurdish people. Turkish prisons remain filled with Kurdish politicians, including parliamentarians and mayors, whose only demand has been peace. The authorities’ declarations of goodwill are confined to media statements; thus, there is no real trust in Turkey’s commitment to peace.”

He further stated that Turkey continues its hostilities and interventions in neighboring countries such as North and East Syria and Southern Kurdistan (Northern Iraq), where it occupies about 40 kilometers of territory in Southern Kurdistan and several cities in North and East Syria.

 Turkey also obstructs national dialogue between the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria and the provisional Damascus government due to its enmity toward the Kurdish people.

Hamid affirmed that as long as the Turkish authorities persist in using the language of hostility and threats toward the Kurds, peace cannot be achieved, nor can their commitment to peace be trusted.

He said: “While Devlet Bahçeli speaks positively about peace, they are merely buying time. On this basis, it is difficult to believe that the Turkish authorities truly intend to achieve peace.”

In conclusion, Hamid emphasized that the Kurdish people are peace-loving and will continue their struggle to achieve it, saying:

“Both the Syrian and Turkish authorities must respond to the Kurdish people’s legitimate demands for their rights within the constitutions and laws of both countries.

 The Kurdish struggle for rights has made the Kurdish question an international issue discussed in global forums. Therefore, the Kurds must obtain their rightful and legitimate rights.”

a.k

ANHA