Kurdish parliament meets in Europe

Kurdish parliament meets in Europe

The following is from a statement released by the Parliament of Kurdistan in Exile.

On April 12, 1995, in the Netherlands, the Parliament of Kurdistan in Exile held its inaugural meeting. The act proved to the world that the Dutch people and their government were democratic and fair relative to freedom of expression. This opportunity was also an act of tolerance. The Kurdish people will never forget such an act of understanding.

In the world, as democratic values are becoming institutionalised with every passing day, Turkey is insisting on its anti-democratic stand and tradition. To the acts of terror that the Turkish state continues to commit in Northern Kurdistan, the Ankara government has added a new atrocity in front of the whole world and invaded Southern Kurdistan [northern Iraq].

It is a pity that Turkey has even been showered with understanding and support by some countries. We consider such empathy regrettable, as it makes it difficult to bring about a solution to the Kurdish question. The Turkish government has called home its ambassador to the Netherlands, Mr Zeki Celikkol. It has done so to protest the democratic values of the Dutch government. In so doing, it has again revealed its undemocratic nature.

We condemn this act of the government of Turkey. We again thank the Dutch people and their government for their act of understanding.

From GLW issue 187