Masoud Barzani says ‘peace main choice’ for Kurds in meeting with HDP

He also highlighted the events that followed the Kurdistan Region’s historic independence referendum last September, including the Iraqi forces’ attack on Kirkuk and the ongoing Turkish operation in Syrian Kurdistan’s Afrin region.

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Former Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani on Saturday reiterated his call to resolve all issues facing the Kurdish people through peaceful means following his meeting with a high-level delegation of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP).

According to a report published on Barzani’s website, he called on Kurds “to adopt realistic and peaceful ways to address” the problems facing them in all parts of the Greater Kurdistan.

The former Kurdistan Region President “stressed that the language of force, weapons, and hegemony does not lead to a [positive] outcome,” adding that “peace is the main choice for the Kurdish people.”

Barzani’s speech came after sitting with HDP Co-leader Pervin Buldan and lawmakers Feleknas Uca, Imam Tascier, Dilek Ocalan, and Osman Baydemir who arrived in the Kurdistan Region’s capital of Erbil on Friday night.

A high-level delegation of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) met with former Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani in Erbil, Kurdistan Region, April 7, 2018. (Photo: Social Media)
A high-level delegation of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) met with former Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani in Erbil, Kurdistan Region, April 7, 2018. (Photo: Social Media)

The Kurdish leader discussed the political developments and challenges facing the Kurdish people in all four parts of Kurdistan spread across Iraq, Turkey, Iran, and Syria, the report on his website said.

Barzani highlighted the events that followed the Kurdistan Region’s historic independence referendum last September, including the Iraqi forces’ attack on Kirkuk and the ongoing Turkish operation in Syrian Kurdistan’s Afrin region.

The HDP delegation also offered their condolences to Barzani following the passing of his nephew, Dilovan Barzani, earlier in the week.

“The two sides agreed, during the meeting, to communicate and consult on the latest developments and obstacles” facing the Kurdish people, the report noted.

HDP Co-leader Pervin Buldan during a meeting with former Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, April 7, 2018. (Photo: Social Media)
HDP Co-leader Pervin Buldan during a meeting with former Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, April 7, 2018. (Photo: Social Media)

Speaking to media ahead of the meeting, HDP Co-leader Buldan said it was necessary for Kurdish parties to come together for what she termed as “national unity.”

A peace process between the Turkish government and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) collapsed in 2015.

The HDP has been accused of being a political front for the banned PKK and faces an ongoing crackdown by the administration of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The pro-Kurdish group’s former co-leaders Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, seven other MPs, over 60 mayors, and thousands of members are all being held in Turkish jails on charges of “terrorism” and separatism.

The last time high-level HDP officials visited the Kurdistan Region was in September 2016, just weeks before Demirtas was arrested in Turkey.