The latest Gulf War has resulted in the toppling of Iraq’s merciless dictator. Its military machine has collapsed and the regime’s leaders have gone into hiding.

We congratulate the achievements of both the coalition forces and the Iraqi people.

The southern Kurdistan towns of Kirkuk, Kanakin Mossul and others, which had been occupied by regime forces, have now been liberated by Peshmerga units.

We also congratulate our people in south Kurdistan and all Kurdish people everywhere.

We, the Socialist Party of Kurdistan, are extremely happy about these recent developments.

In some areas, a few regime supporters continue their brutality – calling it resistance. We hope that these “leftovers” will also soon be eradicated. Any looting, theft and other unacceptable behaviour must stop. Security must be guaranteed and humanitarian aid must get to the needy as quickly as possible.

We also hope that those people who have been expelled from the region over recent years, especially Kurds from the Kirkuk region and the Feyli Kurds (Marsh Kurds), can quickly return to their homelands and begin to mend their wounds.

Surviving leaders of the regime must be apprehended and brought to justice for their crimes against humanity, particularly for the genocide of the Kurds.

A temporary government should be established in Iraq as soon as possible. It must be representative of the majority Kurd and Arab populations as well as the other ethnic and religious groups. Its task should be the preparation of a democratic and federal Iraq.

The Kurdish question has to be resolved on the basis of a federation. The Kurdish people in south Kurdistan should continue to have their own parliament and government. In accordance with a federation they should also be represented in a central parliament in Baghdad as well as in other state institutions.

Democratic elections should be held as soon as possible to establish a new parliament and government in Iraq and Kurdistan.

A federal structure will bring peace to Iraq and set the country on the way towards further progress and development. Iraq can become a model for the entire Middle East.

Turkey and the other states in the region should refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of Iraq and south Kurdistan. Racist and aggressive sections from within Turkey have already begun to try and prevent the positive developments and carry on provocations in the region through the activities of agents and henchman they have there. These can only be thwarted by a united and cautious approach by the patriotic forces of Kurdistan. A great responsibility has therefore again fallen on the leaders and political parties of south Kurdistan. They must put national interests before party political interests. They must act together on all fundamental problems and to also uphold their principles.

The other states in the region, like Turkey, Iran and Syria that take exception to Kurdistan, should now give up their primitive and backward policies. They should look to a just resolution, based on equality, to the Kurdish question and make efforts towards the democratisation of their own countries.

Kemal Burkay
Socialist Party of Kurdistan (PSK)
General Secretary

14th April 2003