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America-Kurdistan friendship league
launched on Capitol Hill
10.8.2007
By Joseph Puder |
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August
10, 2007
Washington, -- The America-Kurdistan
Friendship League (AKFL) was formed today at a press
conference held at 11 AM, in Room 2261 of the
Rayburn House Office Building. The conference was
sponsored by Congressman Rob Andrews (D-NJ) and
co-sponsored by Congressman Pete Hoekstra (R-MI).
Opening the conference, Rep. Rob Andrews stated,
“The formation of the America-Kurdistan Friendship
League (AKFL) is an important step in building a
stronger relationship between our two countries.
There has been a long and solid friendship between
the Kurdish and American people based on the belief
in fundamental principles such as democracy,
freedom, and acceptance of different religions.
Andrews added “Kurdistan is one key area of hope in
an otherwise chaotic Iraq. Through the work of the
America-Kurdistan Friendship League, it is our hope
that positive signs of stability will spread
throughout the rest of Iraq.”
Sherkoh Abbas, president of the Kurdistan national
Assembly-Syria (KNA-S) and a Michigan resident
spearheaded the effort to establish the AKFL
together with Joseph Puder and Lance Silver, both of
New Jersey. The AKFL is a non-profit
Non-Governmental Organization.
Following Congressman Andrews’s introductory words,
Abbas stressed the important role the AKFL could
play in representing American interests in the
Middle East region. “The Kurds,” he said, “are much
better equipped than the 160,000 American G.I.’s to
be the engines of change in advancing American
values and interests. Kurds understand the culture
and speak the language (Arabic).”
Pointing out that the AKFL would ideally serve as a
bridge for promoting trade and commerce between
America and Kurdistan in all areas (Syria, Turkey,
Iran and Iraq) Abbas said, ”Saddam Hussein destroyed
4500 villages in Iraqi Kurdistan, and today a great
deal of rebuilding has to be done. American
construction companies should enjoy preference in
receiving contracts from the Kurdish Regional
government in Erbil.”
Abbas went on to say, “For over 100 years, 50
million Kurds in Turkey, Syria, Iran, and Iraq have
been denied self-determination, independence,
cultural autonomy, and even the most basic human
rights. Kurds fell victim to Saddam Hussein’s
sadistic bloodletting, to fanatical Iranian mullahs,
Turkish governments hostility, and Assad’s ethnic
cleansing in Syria.”
“The Kurdish cultural heritage extends over a
4000-year history,” Abbas said, “to the ancient
Medes that ruled Persia.” Abbas went on to say that,
“Saddam Hussein suppressed the Kurdish language,
religion, history and way of life. The demise of
Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship, and the regional
autonomy of Iraqi Kurdistan, has created a Kurdish
cultural renaissance in Iraqi Kurdistan. In Syria,
Turkey and Iran however, the condition of Kurdish
minorities is still deplorable, and most basic human
rights, not to speak of cultural autonomy, have been
denied. The regimes in Damascus, Tehran, and Ankara
continue to oppress the Kurds.”
Lance Silver, a Philadelphia businessman added, “The
U.S. and the West have a golden opportunity to
embrace 50 million Kurds who are secular Muslims.
The Kurds in Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey, desire a
true democracy, trade with the U.S. and normal
relations with Israel. They treat women as equals
and respect other religions. It would be a mistake
on the part of America not to embrace the Kurds as
fast as possible as both friends and allies.”
Joseph Puder, the Interfaith Taskforce for America
and Israel (ITAI) executive director, summed up the
mission of the organization by stating, “The AKFL
will seek to acquaint Americans with all aspects of
Kurdish life, including Kurdish Islam, the role
women play in Kurdish society, Kurdish history, its
expressive arts, and current politics. Similarly,
the AKFL will promote American values such as
democracy, human rights, the rule of law, individual
and property rights, and a free market economy.”
Puder added, “The AKFL will organize symposiums and
conferences that will bring American and Kurdish
leaders together both in the U.S. in Iraqi
Kurdistan. The AKFL will seek to promote peace and
democracy in the Middle East as well as religious
tolerance and friendship among Arabs, (Israeli)
Jews, Kurds, Persians, and Turks.”
Ostensibly, the AKFL aims to initiate trade and
commerce contacts between American and Kurdish
businesses and individuals. The AKFL will also
encourage American investments in Kurdistan, as well
as educational exchanges.
In concluding the press conference, and before
taking questions, Abbas summarized AKFL objectives;
“Our principle goal is to provide Americans with a
deeper understanding of Kurdish life and living, and
to develop personal relationships and long-term
cultural cross-fertilization between the two
societies. Our hope is to provide Kurds with the
best of American values, and enhance democratic and
civil institutions that would bring Kurdistan in
closer partnership with the West.”
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