DECLARATION OF COLOGNE

We, Kurdish patriots living in the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, England and Austria, assembled on 18 June 2000 in Cologne. We assessed the latest developments in the Kurdish national movement and the Turkish regime’s policy toward it, and we resolved to publish the following declaration:

The Kurdish nation is one of the most ancient and greatest peoples in the Middle East. It has a rich history, language and culture. Like all other nations, the Kurdish nation too has the right to freely determine its own destiny, to live in freedom on its own territory, to govern its country, to utilize its own resources and modern science and technology, and to freely use and develop its language and culture.

Unfortunately, up until the present day the states in the region which have divided up our country among themselves have still not recognized the existence of the Kurdish people and its rights, and they have tried to destroy the Kurdish people by force. Each time the Kurds have expressed their demand for freedom they have been met with oppression, cruelty and genocide.

Although the Turkish state is not satisfied with a federation for the one hundred thousand Turks on Cyprus and demands a confederation instead, for the twenty million Kurds living within its own borders it is not even willing to recognize the right to freedom of the press, the right to publish, the right to education or any other right.

The cause of the Kurdish people’s resistance up until the present day is this unparalleled policy of oppression, cruelty and assimilation. Especially after the detention of the PKK leader Öcalan, the Turkish regime has tried to destroy the Kurdish movement entirely and force it to capitulate.

We hereby direct the attention of the Kurds and the international public to this scheme and scenario of Turkey, and we make the following declaration:

The methods Turkey has employed to date are wrong and have no chance whatsoever of succeeding. The Turkish state must give up its dreams of this kind. The Kurdish question can be solved only if the Turkish state acts according to the principle that the Kurdish people may freely determine their own future. A dialogue leading to a just and peaceful solution of this kind must be initiated as soon as possible.

The Turkish government, as a candidate for EU membership, must immediately fulfill the Copenhagen criteria. These include:

1. abolition of the State of Emergency and disbanding of the village-guard system, the counterguerillas, JITEM, the special units and similar organizations

2. Millions of Kurds whose villages and towns have been destroyed and burned down or who have been forced to migrate must be given the opportunity to return to their homes, and they must receive compensation for the harm they have suffered.

3. The undersigned regard the murders of defenseless civilians and the harassment, rape and humiliating treatment of women as war crimes and crimes against humanity, and demand that those who have committed such acts be prosecuted as criminals and punished.

4. The death penalty must be abolished, a general amnesty must be declared and political prisoners who are in pre-trial detention or serving prison terms must be released. Those who have fled the country must be given the opportunity to return.

5. The Turkish legal system must be democratized and a new and democratic constitution must be created; in this constitution Kurdish identity must be recognized.

6. Total freedom of opinion and freedom to organize must be guaranteed; Kurdish parties must receive the opportunity to operate legally and freely under their true names and carry out their particular programs.

7. Kurdish-language education as well as the Kurdish press, radio and television must be permitted.

In these ways peace and democracy could be established in Turkey and the path toward a permanent solution of the Kurdish question could be smoothed. These are the steps that are urgently necessary.

We call on all democratic groups in Turkey to actively clear away the obstacles to a solution of the Kurdish question and to commit themselves to peace and democracy.

We also appeal to the international public, especially the European Union, to pressure the Turkish regime to fulfill the commitments it has made, without watering down the Copenhagen criteria or deceiving the public in Turkey or abroad.

To all patriots:

The Kurdish people have survived many difficult trials in their history down to the present day. Today as well, there is no reason to give up hope, in spite of the difficulties and the suffering. The Kurds’ potential to carry on the struggle is tremendous, and no power and no scenario can destroy it.

In order to attain our rights and freedoms, we must unite forces within Turkey and abroad, and we must mobilize this potential. All of us together must say no to the scenarios being planned by the Turkish regime.

We must find forms of organization and struggle that are appropriate to our time. A legal mass party which can unite the broadest possible sections of Kurdish patriots within the country is especially important at this stage, and we support the efforts that are being made in this direction.

The Kurdish political and democratic organizations abroad must join forces in order to communicate the Kurdish people’s demands to the international public, do effective diplomatic work, and encourage Kurdish people abroad to engage in peaceful actions to this end.

One of the important tasks that must be accomplished is to create more effective channels within the media. We advocate taking joint initiatives in this area.

Cologne, 18 June 2000

Attached is the list of signatures, which are increasing in number week by week: