Declaration on the Kurdish Region

Meeting of the SI Council at the United Nations in Geneva, 1-2 July 2016

The Council of the Socialist International recognises that the Middle East is going through a critical juncture. Sectarianism, national chauvinism, terrorism, lack of good governance and bad economic conditions have engulfed the region with instability.

The SI recognises the Kurdish issue in the region and the positive role played by Kurdish Forces in general and Peshmerga forces in particular, in fighting terrorism and providing a safe and hospitable environment for refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

In Iraq, the role of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is crucial in defeating Daesh. We  recognise the role and efforts by the KRG to deal with a range of problems, with courage and sincerity. Old paradigms without changes in methods and mentality will reproduce a vicious cycle.

The Kurdish aspirations for peace, dialogue and democratic solutions within Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey are well received and supported by the SI, which supports their democratic aspirations.

The SI Council:

Encourages all sides to exercise restraint, avoid violence and resort to politics for conflict resolution.

Welcomes the right to self-determination through mutual understanding for a new formula between the KRG and the Iraqi government.

Requests the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolutions on Syria, in particular Resolution 2254(2015).

Recognises all efforts to establish a political framework in Syria that guarantees federalism, democracy, democratic federalism, decentralisation, or any other form of governance decided upon by the Syrian people.

SI recognizes the efforts of all forces who fight Daesh in Syria, including the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF-YPG/J, and other Syrian Kurds) in coordination with international alliances.

Finally, we call upon all international parties and the UN to help refugees and to create the necessary atmosphere to remove the causes of migration and help them return to their countries.




