Democracy is commonly interpreted as a system self-rule for communities of

all diversities. This is the only way of materializing true democracy. Syria

is a land that harbors different ethnic and religious communities. These

communities have the right of self-rule as well as establishing a free and

democratic life for themselves. Syria has so many different ethnic and

religious communities that it can no longer be ruled by a central state

authority. The Rojava Revolution has already taken great steps towards a

democratic system in which diverse ethnic and religious communities have

achieved the capacity of self-rule.

 

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 Syria¹s 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 don¹t take seriously the

demands of the Kurdish people, just like Turkey¹s attitude which says ³

leave these to last; let¹s determine the new power in Syria first². 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, 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

Kurds¹ 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 Rojava¹s 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 Syria¹s democratization from

the very beginning. Those ostracizing the Kurds will be held responsible for

this.

 

THE COPRESIDENCEY OF KCK EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

 

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