PYD expands regional, international influence through conferences, strategic alliance

Based on the outcome of the 10th PYD Congress held between September 21-22, 2024, the party held a series of diplomatic meetings in Europe and the Middle East.

One of the most important decisions of the 10th Congress were the prioritization of carrying the struggle by all legitimate means to achieve the physical liberty of Leader Abdullah Ocalan and a political resolution for the Kurdish issue, reinforcing autonomous administration, forming a democratic, decentralized Syria, working to expound the system of self-defense, revolutionary people's war, and community economy, improving diplomatic activity, establishing relations with Kurdish, international, regional, and community parties, and consolidating and supporting the Syrian Democratic Forces.

The Democratic Union Party (PYD) participated in the conference "The Kurdish Issue and Developments in the Middle East," held in Athens, Greece, on March 24. The conference was organized by the Center for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, and it included a small group of scholars and politicians interested in Kurdish affairs and Middle Eastern developments.

During its tour of the Middle East, the party delegation held an official meeting with some of Morocco's legislators in the Moroccan parliament building on June 3, during which they examined recent developments in Syria and the Kurdish issue.

On May 29, the party was present at the Socialist Youth Conference in Morocco as the representative of Syria, where the young people debated their contribution to the building of democratic societies and global solidarity. The party also conducted a series of meetings with European parliamentarians as well as left-wing democratic parties.

Sama Bakdash, co-chair of Democratic Union Party's (PYD) Diplomatic Relations Office, explained that they are taking these steps as decided in the last conference, and it aimed at enhancing diplomatic performance in Kurdistan, the Middle East, and Europe.

As one of women's activities within the party, a women's delegation was invited to attend the "Neda" conference, which took place in the city of Sulaymaniyah in Southern Kurdistan and featured representatives from 18 Middle East and African nations. Sama Bakdash emphasized that the conference acquired an even greater importance because it was based on the women's revolution as a basis of a women's confederation, and had passed the draft "Democratic Confederation of Women in the Middle East," representing a great achievement for Kurdish and Arab women in the framework of the revolutionary struggle.

Bakdash further revealed that the party had sponsored a reception for an "academic conference on the Kurdish issue" planned in Athens for a year and attended by some 100 academics, former Greek foreign ministers, politicians, and journalists from across Europe. The ten long conferences dealt with different topics, including the Kurdish question, the Kurdish people's project, Rojava's women's revolution, and the role of the Kurds in Syria, on the basis of Leader Abdullah Ocalan's ideas and principles.

The party delegation also met with some of the leading Greek parties where they discussed the Syrian affair, the PYD's role in the democratic struggle, and how to expand relations with democratic and left-wing parties. The European tour included meetings with Belgian and Swiss parties where matters covered included the general situation in the region and Syria.

With respect to the party's participation in the Socialist Youth Conference in Morocco, Sama Bakdash explained that a conference like this presented an opportunity for the party to strengthen its relations with Arab states' left forces and parties such as Jordan and Egypt. Tunisia and Morocco. Party membership in the Socialist Youth Alliance was approved at the meeting.

Sama Bakdash revealed that this event is one component in a much broader strategic vision. It was decided to hold an online forum on the work of left parties and women's movements in constructing democratic solutions to the Middle Eastern crises. It was also decided to convene an expanded conference in one of the Arab nations to discuss key questions such as the environment, women, and the nation-state and attempt to build a collective discourse for Middle Eastern democratic forces.

Sama Bakdash also added, "We are preparing now for this conference as a very crucial regional conference, through which we try to open broader spaces of dialogue and joint action."

Sama Bakdash stressed maintaining contact with Kurdish parties in various regions of Kurdistan in the hope of furthering national unity and strengthening political connections within the party's definitive and ongoing strategy.

T/S

ANHA