The Kurds are the fourth largest people in the Middle East. They have a population of 45 million in the four parts of Kurdistan. The Kurds demand and struggle for a free and democratic life shared with all other peoples in the region, with the present borders left intact. They have strongly manifested this desire in Rojava. They want to be a strong basis and an integral part of the democratic Syria. With its nearly 3 million population as Syria’s second largest people, the Kurds have shown their resolve for a peaceful, free and democratic co-existence with other peoples of Syria in their 3 administrative cantons.

The Syrian opposition does not recognize this resolve. Their attitude is no different from that of the Baas regime. They don’t take seriously the demands of the Kurdish people, just like Turkey’s attitude which says “ leave these to last; let’s determine the new power in Syria first”. The Kurds who have not yet been recognized and have been subjected to cultural genocide by regional governments will no longer accept the non-recognition of their rights. Therefore, the Kurds want to take part in the Geneva II conference as an independent and democratic opposition force. With their legitimate democratic demands,www.Ekurd.net their organizations and their political democratic will, the Kurds deserve participation in Geneva II. It is the most natural right of a people, who have hitherto been denied and subjected to cultural genocide, to take part in the Geneva II conference as a democratic force and play role in the democratization of Syria.

However, at a time when all sides are being invited to the conference, the Kurds’ demand for participation has been overlooked by the countries organizing the conference. They have denied the political will of the Kurds with over a 3 million population and of other peoples who live side by side with the Kurds in Rojava’s three administrative cantons. Excluding the Kurds from the conference at a time when they can play a powerful and constructive role in the establishment and democratization of new Syria has from beginning rendered the legitimacy of the conference highly questionable.

They lived one century suffering the outcomes of Lozan. Therefore, they will not allow the Geneva II to be another Lozan for them. The Kurds will not recognize any assembly ostracizing them and failing to reflect their rights. With such irresponsible attitudes of the organizers towards the stability and democratization of Syria, the Kurds neither recognize nor associate themselves in the decisions taken there.

We call on the political powers which organize and invite opposing sides and related countries to the conference to think twice about their decision, ensure the participation of the Kurds and take steps that will strengthen and render legitimate the Geneva II conference. If they take part as an independent delegation, the Kurds will strengthen the conference; if not, Geneva II will be an inconsistent and irresolute conference whose legitimacy will not be recognized by the Kurds. The exclusion of the most basic democratization force, that is, the Kurds, from a conference on the future of Syria invalidates Syria’s democratization from the very beginning. Those ostracizing the Kurds will be held responsible for this.

THE COPRESIDENCEY OF KCK EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
January 15,  2014

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