URFA - NRLS member Kurdyar Direhî, who stated that Turkey wanted to achieve the goals of the National Pact in the centennial of Lausanne, warned: "If we cannot achieve national unity, Lausanne may be repeated."

 

Switzerland, the borders of the Middle East were redrawn with the agreement signed between France, Italy, Greece, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia and Turkey on July 24, 1923 in Lausanne and Kurdistan was partitioned between Türkiye, Iraq, Iran and Syria. Despite the borders formed between nation states by the Treaty of Lausanne, which left a century behind, the Kurds tried to preserve their existence by resisting the grip of genocide and assimilation policies. As the centennial of Lausanne approaches, Kurds hold workshops and conferences in Kurdistan and many other parts of the world, discussing in order to change their destiny.

 

Rojava Center for Strategic Studies (NRLS) also held a workshop on "Lausanne: Correcting and solving regional stability and security problems" in Hesekê, Northern and Eastern Syria. In the workshop held on July 6 and 7, the current situation of the Kurds, their achievements, problems and solutions to them were discussed. The 9-item final declaration of the 2-day workshop was also announced. The main agenda of the workshop and the prominent title of the final declaration was the establishment of Kurdish national unity in the centennial of Lausanne.

 

NRLS member Kurdyar Direhî, who participated in the workshop, made evaluations on the topics discussed and the importance of Kurdish national unity in the centennial of Lausanne.

 

THE SOLUTION OF ABDULLAH ÖCALAN

 

Stating that the Kurds have been subjected to many massacres, genocides and assimilation policies in the century that has passed since the Treaty of Lausanne. Direhi said: "Many Kurdish revolts took place in the last century, but these revolts were not successful. Mr. Abdullah Öcalan's Democratic Nation project is a democratic solution for Kurdistan and the Middle East."

 

THE HAZARD OF THE LAUSANNE

 

Underlining that there is a danger of repeating what happened a century ago for the Kurds and that everyone should take responsibility for this, Direhi said: “We are ready to do whatever we have to do for national unity. A century ago, there was a conflict between the Kurds. Some of the Kurds sided with the Turkish state, and some were fighting for national liberation; however, due to the lack of unity among the Kurds, the struggles were not successful. Today, while the Turkish state wants to realize the goals of the National Pact, some Kurdish forces are cooperating with them. It is our duty to explain these facts to our people and to prevent Lausanne from being repeated for the second time."

 

THE CALL OF ABDULLHA ÖCALAN

 

Reminding that PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan emphasized the importance of national unity at every opportunity and made a call in this context in the phone call he made with his family on April 27, 2020, Direhi said: "However, despite all efforts, national unity could not be achieved because Turkey does not want the Kurds to be united in a strategic sense. On the one hand, all Kurdish parties in Kurdistan talk about national unity, but when it comes to taking steps, their personal interests take precedence. Why did the KDP not accept Mr. Abdullah Öcalan's proposal? In our opinion, the Turkish state did not allow it. If Kurdish parties have the will, national interests come first. Serious steps can be taken for unity; however, if they act with party and family interests, we cannot achieve national unity."

 

'THERE IS NO REMEDY OTHER THAN TOGETHER'

 

Expressing that they are ready for unity in Northern and Eastern Syria, Direhi said: "National unity cannot be achieved as long as the cooperation of KDP and ENKS with Turkey continues. Turkey wanted to achieve the goals of the National Pact in the centennial of Lausanne. Kurdish gains would be endangered if national unity among the Kurds was not achieved. The Kurds have no choice but to unite against attacks and dangers. The biggest obstacle to the Turkish state's National Pact goals is the Autonomous Administration and the Kurdish Freedom Movement, which is why they use the KDP. If the Kurdish Freedom Movement and the Autonomous Administration are liquidated, the gains in Southern Kurdistan will disappear because the Turkish state does not want the Kurds to have a status in any way. If we cannot achieve national unity, Lausanne may be repeated."

 

MA / Mahmut Altıntaş