The attack of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which resulted in the overthrow of the regime, and the attack of Turkey and its affiliated Syrian National Army (SNA) on the areas under the control of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria led to discussions among the Kurds to oppose the attacks on the basis of national unity. As the Autonomous Administration continues talks with the Kurdish parties in Syria about the attacks and the representation of the Kurds in Syria in the new period around a common programme, writers, politicians and journalists from the 4 parts of Kurdistan have called for national unity.

 

'KURDS ARE THE MAIN FORCE OF CHANGE'

 

Stating that the most concrete example of the Kurds' century-long struggle for democracy and peace is the Autonomous Administration model established in North and East Syria, Writer Kakshar Oremar from Rojhilat said: "The strategies of the great powers lie behind the changes taking place in Syria. The dissolution of the Assad regime and the strengthening of HTS's position in the field are part of these games. However, it is unacceptable for the Kurds to be left out of this equation. The winds of change are blowing in the Middle East. Iran's influence in Palestine, Gaza and Lebanon has seriously weakened. Khamenei's influence in the region is breaking down. The possibility of HTS being deployed as a force against Iran should not be ruled out. However, the Kurds are prevented from stepping in as a strategic power in such an equation."

 

'NOW IS THE TIME FOR NATIONAL UNITY'

 

Oremar stated that despite all the attacks, the Kurds have acted successfully both in diplomacy and struggle in this process. Stressed that the resistance launched by the Kurdish people in Rojhilat with the philosophy of "jin, jiyan, azadî" has prepared the ground for the changes in Iran and the region, "The Kurdish policies that include all peoples and beliefs are the basic dynamics of change. Ensuring national unity in this period is of vital importance for Kurds. 100 years of fragmentation must come to an end. A national power must be built around the ideas of Mr Abdullah Öcalan. We all know how their enemies fear when Kurds are united. Now is the time for unity," he said.

 

'WE MUST END THE IMPOSED FRAGMENTATION'

 

Expressing that Kurdish national unity is a necessity not only for North and East Syria but also for 4 parts of Kurdistan, Ehmed Xoce, General Assembly Member of Partiya Yekîtiya Demokrat/Democratic Union Party (PYD), said: “The recent developments in the region concern 4 parts of Kurdistan. We are at an important crossroads. The Kurdish struggle against ISIS in Kobanê is always on our minds. The spirit of Kobanê has become a symbol of the Kurdish freedom struggle. Just as Kobanê was won with the spirit of national unity, we must act with the same spirit today. Unity must be ensured for the success of the Kurds in the 4 parts. This unity is a necessity for a free life. We need to put forward a united will against the disintegration policies that have been carried out since Lausanne. If we want to exist ourselves in this period, we need to put an end to the fragmented situation that has been imposed for a century.”

 

THE NAME OF THE CENTURY-LONG ANNIHILATION PROCESS: LOZAN

 

Tkur Zerdeşt, a journalist from the Federated Kurdistan Region, stated that the centenary of the Treaty of Lausanne, which authorized the second partition of the Kurdish geography, has passed and that the Kurdish struggle against the policy of denial and annihilation brought about by this treaty has entered a new phase. Stating that the gains of the Autonomous Administration are under threat from Turkey and its affiliated groups, Zerdeşt said: “Lausanne was the name of a 100-year process of denial and annihilation for the Kurdish people. However, today Kurds have the power to overcome this policy of denial with the gains they have achieved in Rojava. However, enemy cooperation and treasonous policies among us jeopardize these gains. It is necessary to develop a common attitude against the forces that prevent Kurdish national unity.” 

 

Zerdeşt said that the Barzanis in the Federated Kurdistan administration undermine Kurdish national unity due to their relations with Turkey, emphasizing that these policies harm the struggle of the Kurdish people, “The Barzani family weakens the struggle of the Kurdish people with their cooperation with the Turkish state. These policies must be rejected and a common stance must be taken for the national unity of the Kurdish people,” he said. 

 

'THE KURDS ARE ON THE BRINK OF A HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY'

 

Faysal Sarıyıldız, a politician from the diaspora, noted that the developments in the Middle East pose great threats and great opportunities for the Kurds at the same time, and stated that the spirit of resistance that emerged during the Kobanê process should be revived in the Kurdish people's struggle for freedom today. Sarıyıldız said: “The spirit we gained in Kobanê was the most concrete expression of the unity and solidarity of the Kurdish people. In the summer of 2014, when ISIS destroyed everything humanitarian in its path like a hurricane, a university student from Rojhilat crossed first to Kirkuk, then to Shengal and then to Kobanê to take cover against this brutality. After being seriously wounded in Kobanê, he was brought to Northern Kurdistan. And after he died in Suruç, he was buried here. The Rojava revolution was realized with this spirit. Today, any position that falls short of this spirit is doomed to suffer a dramatic defeat. If we do not revive this spirit today, the future of the Kurds will be open to great dangers. International powers fought against the ISIS mentality for all the peoples of the world. Likewise, international powers have to support the Kurds. Kurds need to strengthen this support with unifying policies.” 

 

'VICTORY IS NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT UNITY'

 

Sarıyıldız pointed out that the Kurdish people need national unity more than ever in order to protect their gains in 4 parts and build their future, and stated that Kurds should come together in line with the ideas of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan and become a national power. Sarıyıldız said the following: “The gains of Rojava and the spirit of Kobanê are seen as the cornerstones of the Kurds' struggle for unity and freedom. While the changing balances in the Middle East offer great opportunities for Kurds, it is inevitable to ensure national unity in order to make use of these opportunities.” 

 

MA / Delal Akyüz