Turkey condemns EU conference on Kurds, Turkey
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The Turkish government condemned a conference held in the EU parliament, in Brussels, titled ‘The European Union, Turkey, the Middle East, and the Kurds’, organized by the EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC).
The conference, held on March 8-9, is the 17th iteration of this annual meeting. This year, participants included Ilham Ahmad, President of the Executive Committee of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), HDP Group Deputy Chair Meral Danis Bestas, Nobel Peace laureate Shirin Ebadi, and Turkish journalist Amberin Zaman, among others.
The EUTCC describes itself as a body contributing “to the progress of Turkish membership to the EU. It does this by spreading accurate, objective information both in Turkey and Europe about the progress made by Turkey.”
This year’s conference touched a number of subjects, including the disparity in earthquake aid provision, Turkish attacks on northeast Syria, a peace process between the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Turkish government, and a possible ban of the pro-Kurdish HDP party in Turkey.
Speaking at the event, Ilham Ahmad condemned the international community’s rapprochement with the Damascus government and Turkish attacks on northeast Syria, which she says were leading to a resurgence of the Islamic State (ISIS). She also called out EU silence on the issue, saying “the EU and its member states must protect their own values … We want them to take a clear stand against the Turkish government. We want them to recognize that the Turkish presence in Syria is an occupation.” This should not be overlooked because of Turkey’s role in Ukraine, she added.
Ahmad also stressed the necessity for political recognition of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).
She and other speakers also called for the Turkish government to use the ceasefire established by the PKK following the earthquake to reach a peace agreement, and for the EU to take a clear position on a possible ban of the HDP party.
The Turkish government released a statement on the first day of the conference, condemning the “anti-Türkiye event organized by the ringleaders and supporters of the PKK/PYD/YPG.”
The statement said it was “unacceptable [for the EU] to allow for such an event to take place … This demonstrates once again the hypocrisy and insincere stance of the European Parliament in the fight against terrorism.”