Unfortunately, the Kurdish issue is very deep and bloody, it has a long history filled with tears. The new beginning named, "Resolution Process", is a process that requires deep changes and transformations that cannot be presented with the "solution to the Kurdish problem" label. Because this issue cannot only be reduced to ethnic dimension of complexity, this issue is a problem hand in hand and apparent with economical, historical, cultural, regional and political dimensions.

Making reforms should not be limited with cultural rights, equal citizenship related substances to be put into the constitution, but rather be based on justice in the country and political identity, and to live freely in the belief there will be drastic arrangement to raise cultural and economical quality of life for the people. The importance of a process of this magnitude is not understood well enough and not adequately described.

The peace that will come with this process will affect the people of the region, people of Turkey and the people of Middle East, people will have trust and the injustices associated with the Kurdish identity will be eliminated. There will be outcomes of reinforcement of brotherhood, the games of foreign powers will be disrupted and there will be an increase in happiness, hope and prosperity, which will lead to the rising of quality in life. Shortly, each party associated with this issue will benefit at the end. However, awareness in regards to the process finding the necessary support for a secure outcome, the potential gains and the issues of who it will affect, is not sufficient.

As IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation, since the day we have been established we are showing efforts for the Kurdish resolution process in line with the principles we have adopted, with the belief that this process needs all opportunities for conducting the process in a positive way which will be built with justice and brotherhood. We are living the satisfaction of what once were sounds of gunfire that were generating oppression and brutality of the suppression in the region, but now those sounds are silenced and now everyone is talking about a new beginning of solutions. Despite all the risks and challenges regarding the new era, we have conducted a wide range of studies and work to achieve peace and also we have published many reports. We have strived and will continue to be a part of the cure of problems for the people of the region and to be a part of the solution that will enable them to attain a dignified life with all rights.

The solution for the Kurdish issue and the establishment of a lasting peace, passes through an understanding process. Our work in Kurdish regions and around Turkey have showed us that there is not proper and real recognition of the Kurds, and there is insufficient knowledge of the problems the Kurdish people are facing. On the other hand the fact that the problem has not been outspoken freely for a long time shows that the only language for communication between the parties was violence and wrong policies have led to the deepening of the problem among the people.

At this point the "Kurds and Peace in the Middle East" symposium is important. Because at the symposium, the Kurdish history, language, culture and art, the meeting of Islam, socioeconomic and political situation, Kurdish Diaspora, nationalism issues, the cause of the Kurdish issue, armed conflict period, developments in Syria and Iraq, Kobani problems, rights and freedoms problem, the problems of the young Kurds and woman, weapons being silenced, peace and progress in the resolution process, expectations and responsibilities of similar crisis in different geographic areas and the carried out solution process will be discussed.
In addition to the notifications that will be presented at the symposium, a resource book will be complied of notifications and reports will be available in five languages (Kurdish, Turkish, Arabic, Zaza, English) and will be published for international benefit.

For those of us who believe that peace is the most beneficial for human beings and to contribute to the peace efforts is again among the most beneficial.

May this act of charity bring us good fortune...

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INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM

KURDS AND PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

The Green Park Hotel Diyarbakır

25-26 April 2015

Day 1

25 April

09.30 Registration

10.00 Opening Speech - Av. F. Bülent Yıldırım

Protocol Speeches

11.00 Opening Conference

The Role Of the Kurds In the Middle East Pease Facility - Prof. Dr. Muhyiddin Ali Karadaği

12.00-13.30 LUNCH BREAK

13.30-15.30 SESSION 1

                                        KURDS: HISTORY, LANGUAGE, CULTURE, GEOGRAPHY

                                                          Session Chairman: Orhan Miroğlu

History of Kurds - Dr. Müfid Yüksel

Where do Kurdish people live, and how? Turkish, Iraqi, Iranian, Syrian Kurdish population and sociological,

religious, economic and political situation analysis - Dr. Abdulbaset Sieda

Kurdish diasporas - Av. Yusuf Serhat Bucak

The humanitarian situation and humanitarian work in the Kurdistan region - Behçet Atila

Kurdish Language - Halil Aktuğ

Kurdish culture and art - Dr. Farsat Mari'i

Kurds meeting with Islam and the place and influence of Islam on the Kurdish identity - Molla M. Zahid Kuldaş

Kurds interaction in Marxism and nationalism - Altan Tan

15.30-16.00 BREAK

16.00-18.00 SESSION 2

                                          KURDISH ISSUE, CONFLICT, CHANGE, TRANSFORMATION

                                                              Session Chairman: Kazım Koç

Cause of the Kurdish issue, suppression and uprisings - Ali Kaçar

Oppression and persecution against the Kurds through cases - Abdulilah Fırat

The evolution process of the armed conflict through the Kurdish issue - Doç. Dr. Güneş Murat Tezcür

Middle East (especially Syria and Iraq) interaction of the Kurdish issue with the developments - Mehmet Yavuz

Problems of the fundamental rights and freedoms - Av. Serdar Bülent Yılmaz

Problems of the Kurdish youth and their approaches on resolution - Mustafa Eren

Problems of the Kurdish woman and their approaches on resolution - Nurcan Akyol

                                                                             DAY 2

                                                                           26 APRIL

10.00-11.30 SESSION 3

     ETHNIC ORIGIN OF ARMED CONFLICT IN DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHIES AND SETTLEMENT PROCESS
 

                                                    Session Chairman: Hüseyin Oruç

Philippines-Moro Peace Process - Mohajirin Ali

From Basque nationalism, Spanish experience for peace - Akın Özçer

Disarmament process on the road to peace in Northern Ireland - Yusuf Çınar

Fundamental problems of China's East Turkistan policy - Amine Ertürk

Historical background and current status of the Kashmiri struggle - Nazir Ahmed

11.30-13.00 LUNCH BREAK

13.00-15.00 SESSION 4

                                                                    PEACE AND RESOLUTION PROCESS

                                                             Session Chairman: Doç. Dr. İbrahim Özcoşar

What do the Kurdish people want? - Nevzat Çiçek

Will a new constitution solve the problems? Constitutional and legal expectations - Doç. Dr. Vahap Coşkun

Evaluation of the positive and negatives roles of social actors contributing to the solution - Abdurrahman Kurt

Requirements of peace and resolution, our responsibilities - Av. Gülden Sönmez