|
November, 2005 • Salahaddin University &
University of Sulaimani • Kurdistan
The Kurdish National Congress of North America held
a Special Conference in Southern Kurdistan dedicated
as a forum on “Kurdish Independence” in November of
2005. The Conference was hosted by Salahaddin
University (in Hawlair) on November 10, and by the
University of Sulaimania (in Slemani) on November
13,
The conference was well attended at both locations
by Kurds from all walks of life:- from intellectuals
and academia to politicians and business leaders;
from students to the man on the street. Many local
and foreign dignitaries also were present and
participated as speakers or panelists and
contributed to the discussions throughout the day.
There was active and interactive participation among
the audiences and the speakers during the
question-and-answer intervals allocated for
interactive discussions.
.
Early this year, the people of southern Kurdistan
took the first baby step towards the creation of an
independent Kurdish State in the form of a
grass-root referendum that was conducted informally
alongside the Iraqi National Elections held in
January. It is our hope that the Conference gave
further impetus to that drive and has helped in
starting a diligent examination of the issues
involved with specific focus on the opportunities
and obstacles that lie ahead.
The conference concluded with the following firm
expressions and assertions:
1. In the event of a default by the Central
Government on the present understanding of a Federal
Kurdish State in southern Kurdistan, the Kurdish
Parliament must earnestly consider the declaration
of a fully Independent Kurdish Nation- State.
2. Kurdish Regional Governments and political
parties alike must establish formal “Planning
Boards” that will oversee the wise use of the
nation’s wealth through coordinated planning and
implementation of long term economic, educational,
agricultural, and industrial programs with special
emphasis on developing Kurdish natural resources,
particularly water and oil.
3. All government sponsored educational services
(particularly the university system), and publicly
funded socioeconomic programs and employment
opportunities must be based on a system of
meritocracy rather than being based on nepotism and
cronyism.
4. To call upon the Regional Governments to design
and implement special educational and sociopolitical
programs that will encourage the emergence of
popular Independent Democratic Institutions that
safeguard basic human rights and propagate
democratic values.
Summary of Discussions:
The one day Conference started with a brief morning
session of formalities, welcoming remarks and
speeches by dignitaries and guest speakers. The
remaining part of the day was organized into three
main sessions.
Following is a summary of each session:
Session I:
Roadmap to Independence
Kurds have an inherent right to enunciate a unified
strategy that proclaims the establishment of a
Kurdish State as its ultimate goal. Towards that
end, the following issues should be considered and
examined:
1. Putting the Kurdish house in order by bringing
together diverse Kurdish political parties and
sociopolitical forces and coordinating a Common
Kurdish National Strategy and agenda for
independence.
2. The responsibility for developing a unified
national strategy for independence falls upon the
Kurdish people themselves
3. Kurdish political parties from all parts of
Kurdistan need to coordinate their efforts towards
independence through a common strategy and agenda.
4. Establish relations with the international
community, in particular the EU, and the US must be
based on mutual respect and shared benefits.
5. The southern-Kurdistan Regional Governments need
to groom and broaden their relationship with the
neighboring countries on the basis of mutual respect
and non-interference.
6. Intimate relations with the various ethnic and
religious groups in the region, based on common
values, history and culture, must be a priority to
enhance the possibility of peaceful co-existence.
7. Turkey’s membership in the EU brings democracy to
Turkey and gives Northern Kurds the possibility of
establishing a Kurdish parliament in Turkey and a
Kurdish bloc in the EU parliament. Such a bloc would
be able to draw support for Kurdish independence.
Therefore, Kurds must support Turkey’s membership
8. Kurdish independence will create a vibrant
economy that brings prosperity to the region and
strengthens the global economy.
9. Kurds must lobby the UN for a referendum on
Independence in Southern Kurdistan that reflects the
true wishes of the Kurdish people.
10. Kurds must seek to influence the international
community for a guarantee that gives international
protection to the emerging Federal Kurdish state in
Southern Kurdistan.
11. The establishment of an independent Kurdistan
that is protected by the international community
will in and of itself ensures that the Kurdish
people are not subject to genocide and/or grave
human rights violation in the future.
12. An independent Kurdistan will join the
international community in its fight against terror.
Session II:
Current Geopolitical Borders and their role as
obstacles to a United Kurdistan; considerations of
cultural, political and economic values that form
the basis for Independent Kurdish States.
Identification of the obstacles created by the
regional powers who occupy Kurdistan and block its
reunification is a necessary first step towards
finding means of overcoming them. While these
chauvinistic regional powers may be the prime
impeders of an independent unified Kurdistan,
consideration must also be given to the hindrance
created by the geopolitical interests of
international superpowers that coincide with the
interests of the regional powers in many instances.
Achieving self-determination in different parts of
Kurdistan may need different strategies. Various
options and scenarios exist that can be entertained
in this regard depending on the particulars of the
Kurdish population and the maturity of the political
movement in each part of divided Kurdistan. Most of
the panelists did not opt for focusing their
political activities at the present time on the
achievement of a United Independent Kurdistan as a
top priority; rather they favored tailoring their
immediate goals according to the realistic
potentials of their localities. Thus, whereas it
might be considered feasible to attain a fully
independent Kurdish Nation--State in one part, it
might be more advantageous in another part to
establish a Federal Kurdish State federated with the
central government of that region. Still it might
not be possible in some other part but to settle for
a more limited form of self rule and autonomy.
Therefore, self—determination and reunification will
depend on the degree of autonomy each part achieves.
It may be in the form of four Federated States or
four Independent Nation--States united in a regional
pact, or one United Independent Kurdistan.
1. Dividing Kurdistan into four parts against the
wishes of its people has created a hostile
geopolitical environment for the Kurds – a fact that
has enabled the occupiers to rule with immunity.
2. Lack of a Kurdish national strategy has created
some discord between the various Kurdish political
parties – another sad realty that has made them
vulnerable to manipulation by the regional powers.
3. Lack of a democratic culture in the Middle East
has created a hostile environment for all political
parties and freedom lovers. This in turn has made
the establishment of a democratic Kurdish state more
difficult.
4. The economic and political interests of the US
and the EU in the status quo with regards to the
Arab states and Turkey prevent their support for an
independent Kurdistan.
5. Control of the natural resources of Kurdistan by
the occupying regional powers has created the
perception that the Kurdistan economy is not viable.
6. Dominance of the Arab states, Turkey, Iran, and
other Islamic states in the UN is another obstacle
that prevents international support for the
formation of independent Kurdish state(s).
7. Disparate views between the Kurdish parties and
the Kurdish public over the realism of an
independent Kurdish state in the present
international environment is another factor that
hinders the emergence of a united Kurdish strategy
for independence.
8. A positive re-evaluation of national, regional
and international politics by of the Kurdish people
and their leadership may assist in increasing
confidence in the establishment of an independent
state.
9. Iraq’s constitution in its recently ratified form
does not allow for legal steps to be taken for the
creation of an independent Kurdish state – a fact
that effectively denies the Kurds the full exercise
of their right to self-determination .
Session III:
Kurdish Nation-State(s); Future Outlines and
Scenarios for the Region; Democracy and Stability in
the
'New Middle East'
The full realization of self-determination by the
Kurdish people and the establishment of either a
single unified Kurdish state or four Kurdish
nation-states will promote democracy and stability
in the area.
1. Establishing a democratic Kurdish state with an
elected parliament and multi-party system in
Southern Kurdistan will create a culture of
democracy in the region that will stretch well
beyond the Iraqi borders.
2. Establishment of a Kurdish judicial system that
truly upholds the rule of law will create a
first-time environment of equality for all the
people – an achievement that will be the envy of all
the neighboring nations where equality and justice
exist in law books only.
3. Emergence of a free economy in Kurdistan will
strengthen peaceful coexistence among the nations of
the region.
4. In general, only independent and democratic
systems of governance spawn free market economies
and create an environment that support social and
economic developments, the Kurdish people in all of
Kurdistan are ready for this task as they have
demonstrated that clearly in Southern Kurdistan for
more than a decade.
5. The establishment of popular democratic
intuitions that promote human rights, freedom of
expression, and the right of association and
religious practices will promote tolerance and
equality in the region.
6. The protection of women’s rights and promotion of
gender equality in an independent Kurdistan will
elevate the status of women in all aspects of life
in the entire region.
The Kurdish National Congress of North America
P.O. Box 1663, P.O. Box 43098, P.O. Box 545
Lake Forest, CA 92630 Mississauga, ONT Millersville,
MD 21108
USA L5B 4A7, CANADA USA
Tel/Fax: 949-583-1417 Tel 905-306-7300 Tel:
408-834-5557
www.kncna.org
Top |
® 