Kurds from former Soviet states meet in Moscow to strengthen ties

Several Kurdish communities in countries once part of the Soviet Union say they will hold a conference in Moscow to reorganize and reunite under a Kurdish federation.

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Several Kurdish communities in countries once part of the Soviet Union have announced that they are holding a conference in Moscow on Saturday to organize together under a Kurdish federation.

Kinyaz Ibrahim, head of the Federation of Kurdish Communities in Former Soviet States, told Kurdistan 24 on Friday that Kurdish politicians, experts, and well-known personalities from different parts of Greater Kurdistan and Europe will attend the event.

“The purpose of the conference is to reorganize and reunite Kurdish organizations and communities in the former Soviet nations to maintain their link with Kurdistan, preserve their Kurdish mother tongue, and preserve their culture,” Ibrahim said.

“The goal of any Kurdish individual from any part of the world is to have their own independent state,” he added. “There will be no more suffering for the Kurdish people if there is a Kurdish independent state.”

In 1989, nearly 153,000 Kurds were estimated to be living in the Soviet Union before it collapsed. Data presented in 2010 shows that some 64,000 Kurds still live in what is now Russia.

Former President of the Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani commended their efforts to band together in a statement released from Erbil on Saturday.

“I thank you all, one by one, for reorganizing and reuniting the affairs and activities of the Kurdish communities in those countries, and I wish you all success,” Barzani stated. “It’s very unfortunate that the Kurdish people have been divided against their will. This division has caused different catastrophes and injustices to the Kurds.”

Stressing the Kurdish struggle throughout history until now, Barzani noted that Kurds will not give up the struggle to achieve their rights and will continue to fight for it. The Kurdish leader also said that Kurds have always wanted peace and coexistence, and not to act unjustly with other peoples.

“It is the duty of all of us to deliver the message of peace to the world in the best way possible, and make it understand the righteous cause of the people of Kurdistan.”

Barzani also called on Kurdish communities to form strong cultural, political, and friendly ties with different nations around the world, saying, “I am very delighted that you are attempting to become a strong bridge for building the relations between Kurds and those countries that are in the geographic location of the former Soviet Union.”

He stressed the strong relations between the Kurdistan Region and the former Soviet states throughout history, praising the policies of the Russian government and other nations towards the Kurds as well as allowing Kurds to hold political and cultural activities in the region. He went on to commend the organizers and communities for preserving their Kurdish mother tongue and culture as well as their support during the last year’s Sep. 25 referendum on independence in the Kurdistan Region.

Barzani highlighted that events which occurred directly after the poll, and the “treason” of some, had caused substantial damage to the people of Kurdistan, but added that Kurds remain with a still stronger will and ever more awareness.

He concluded by saying he hoped that the conference would open a doorway to reunite the Kurdish voice, not only in the former Soviet states, but around the world.

Editing by John J. Catherine