SOURCE: Kurdish Media
Washington, D.C. – on March 12, 2006
In the Conference that was called by the Kurdish Front for Promoting Democracy and Freedom in Syria, which was held on March 12, 2006 in Washington D.C., and was attended by representatives of Kurdish political parties, movements, personalities and intellectuals from Syria, adopted the following principles and positions, after discussing, analyzing and reviewing the future of Syria:
1- The Kurdish people in Syria live on their historical lands and are an indigenous people of the country.
2- We demand that the New Constitution of a Future Democratic Syria be a Secular one that contains specific articles concerning the status of the Kurds as an essential national group along the lines of the Arabs of Syria, and that recognizes their national rights on the basis of the “Rights of Peoples to Self-determination”. Furthermore, that the Syrian Constitution be a pluralistic one that recognizes the rights of other national groups in Syria as well.
3- The Kurds support the process of democratic change and the abolishment of the dictatorial regime in Syria. We, further, demand free and fair democratic elections in the country, and the elimination of all the traces and consequences of national oppression practiced against the Kurds. We also demand that the victims of such policies be compensated.
4- Cooperation with all the Democratic Opposition Forces in Syria, and advancement of joint efforts for change, based on the principles of mutual respect and recognition of mutual rights.
5- Cooperation in combating terrorism, regionally and internationally, and developing cooperative relations with forces of Democracy and Freedom in these efforts.
6- Working for introducing deep and comprehensive societal changes in Syria, including respect for freedom of religion and beliefs, as well as the right of women.
7- Supporting the People of Lebanon and their current democratic movement that aims at achieving independence and liberating themselves from Syrian hegemony.
8- Supporting the political process in Iraq for achieving democracy and strengthening their people’s will in establishing federation and pluralism. In addition to supporting the Democratic system in Iraqi Kurdistan.
9- We demand that the New Syria commits itself to respect all international treaties and documents adopted by the international community, especially the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
10- We present our special thanks to the Organization of Syrian Kurds in the United States and Canada for arranging these meetings and emphasize the necessity of future cooperation.
11- The Conference proposed and recommended, to the political parties, movements, intellectuals, civil society groups and women organizations in Syrian Kurdistan, the necessity of achieving a common platform for the national rights of the Kurdish People and the general democratic rights of the country. It further emphasized the necessity of formation of a common representative structure, by the Syrian Kurds inside and outside the country that can express and represent the national rights and demands of the Kurdish people.
12- The Conference salutes the Second Anniversary of the Kurdish uprising in Syria and express our esteem to the memory of all the martyrs, especially Sheikh Mashooq Al-Khaznawy.
13- The Conference positively appraised and welcomed President Bush’s Initiative for Democratic Change in the Greater Middle East Region
Washington, D.C. – on March 12, 2006
In the Conference that was called by the Kurdish Front for Promoting Democracy and Freedom in Syria, which was held on March 12, 2006 in Washington D.C., and was attended by representatives of Kurdish political parties, movements, personalities and intellectuals from Syria, adopted the following principles and positions, after discussing, analyzing and reviewing the future of Syria:
1- The Kurdish people in Syria live on their historical lands and are an indigenous people of the country.
2- We demand that the New Constitution of a Future Democratic Syria be a Secular one that contains specific articles concerning the status of the Kurds as an essential national group along the lines of the Arabs of Syria, and that recognizes their national rights on the basis of the “Rights of Peoples to Self-determination”. Furthermore, that the Syrian Constitution be a pluralistic one that recognizes the rights of other national groups in Syria as well.
3- The Kurds support the process of democratic change and the abolishment of the dictatorial regime in Syria. We, further, demand free and fair democratic elections in the country, and the elimination of all the traces and consequences of national oppression practiced against the Kurds. We also demand that the victims of such policies be compensated.
4- Cooperation with all the Democratic Opposition Forces in Syria, and advancement of joint efforts for change, based on the principles of mutual respect and recognition of mutual rights.
5- Cooperation in combating terrorism, regionally and internationally, and developing cooperative relations with forces of Democracy and Freedom in these efforts.
6- Working for introducing deep and comprehensive societal changes in Syria, including respect for freedom of religion and beliefs, as well as the right of women.
7- Supporting the People of Lebanon and their current democratic movement that aims at achieving independence and liberating themselves from Syrian hegemony.
8- Supporting the political process in Iraq for achieving democracy and strengthening their people’s will in establishing federation and pluralism. In addition to supporting the Democratic system in Iraqi Kurdistan.
9- We demand that the New Syria commits itself to respect all international treaties and documents adopted by the international community, especially the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
10- We present our special thanks to the Organization of Syrian Kurds in the United States and Canada for arranging these meetings and emphasize the necessity of future cooperation.
11- The Conference proposed and recommended, to the political parties, movements, intellectuals, civil society groups and women organizations in Syrian Kurdistan, the necessity of achieving a common platform for the national rights of the Kurdish People and the general democratic rights of the country. It further emphasized the necessity of formation of a common representative structure, by the Syrian Kurds inside and outside the country that can express and represent the national rights and demands of the Kurdish people.
12- The Conference salutes the Second Anniversary of the Kurdish uprising in Syria and express our esteem to the memory of all the martyrs, especially Sheikh Mashooq Al-Khaznawy.
13- The Conference positively appraised and welcomed President Bush’s Initiative for Democratic Change in the Greater Middle East Region