AGIRÎ - Citizens participating in the Conference on the Importance of Kurdish National Unity pointed out that the work must continue, noting, "If we are united, we can win."
The "Conference on the Importance of Kurdish National Unity," organised by the Democratic Unity Initiative under the slogan "Towards peace for the sake of unity," took place in the Bazîd (Doğubeyazıt) district of Agirî (Ağrı). Hundreds of citizens from different cities attended the conference.
Sait Özdemirli, 77, came from Bedlîs to attend the conference. Stating that conferences are very important for the people to express their own ideas Özdemirli said: "Let our voice reach all Kurdish political parties and other political parties. For years, the Kurds have been deprived of all their basic rights. When we say, 'We Kurds also have rights,' they deny our rights. Let the enemy know that we do not want another Lausanne. İsmet İnönü can no longer speak on behalf of the Kurdish people."
Özdemirli stated that the demands of the Kurdish people cannot be realised without national unity and emphasised that Kurdish unity must be achieved in the four parts of Kurdistan.
Ömer Çetin, 40, said that the Kurdish people have suffered greatly throughout their history: "If we are not united, we will suffer even greater pain. All Kurds must be united. Without unity, there can be no Kurds."
Songül Kaya, 53, attended the conference from Izmir: Referring to the pressure and assimilation policies she has been subjected to because of her Kurdish identity Songül Kaya said: "We are the grandchildren of Şêx Said (Sheikh Said). My blood is definitely Kurdish, my language is Kurdish. No matter what happens, people should not lose their Kurdish identity."
Xurşît Tekin,73, attended the conference from Şemzînan (Şemdinli). Tekin said that the four parts of Kurdistan must be united: "If the Kurds are united, then we will win. This conference is very important for our Kurdish unity. It also strengthens our hopes."
Rabia Algür, 63 said: "If we establish our unity strongly, we will win. We will bring peace through our unity. If we unite, everyone will have to take a step."
Salihe Yazıcı, 50, said: "We want peace and equality. Let our unity be established. Let our language, our freedom, and our peace be one. We want to achieve victory. Everyone must work for unity. We must carry out this work in the streets."