Turkey not only maintains its military presence in the occupied territories, but also exploits cultural, economic and social codes and values by assimilating them.

In this period, when the attacks against Kurds are increasing by the day, efforts are continuing to establish the Kurdish National Unity.

On 19 May, 25 Kurdish political movements in North and East Syria held a meeting in Qamishlo, and decided to carry the national unity efforts to the next level.

As a result of the meeting, the establishment of a new structure called "Kurdish National Unity Parties" was announced to support and follow up the activities to establish the national unity in the region. In North Kurdistan, it is the Democratic Society Congress (DTK) which leads the national unity work.

Speaking to ANF, DTK co-chair Berdan Öztürk emphasized that the national unity should be achieved as soon as possible, especially considering the process Turkey is going through.

Öztürk said that national unity is important not only in Rojava but in all parts of Kurdistan and added that they will speed up their efforts to be successful in the establishing of national unity.

Underlining that the national unity is not a combination of policies consisting of the same views and thoughts, Öztürk added: "We may not have the same ideology, but we have a common culture, language and history that require us to come together. Not long ago, a Kurdish teenager was brutally murdered because he listened to Kurdish songs in Ankara. Today, wherever you look in the Middle East geography, a Kurd is facing attacks if he claims to be Kurd.”

Reminding that the national unity activities carried out in North Kurdistan are responsibility of the DTK, Öztürk said: "These work has been going on since our congress in 2007. Today, if we still have not achieved a concrete result, it is our responsibility. Neither the HDP nor DBP have any responsibility. The works are carried out entirely at the initiative of our congress.”

Noting that the awareness of national unity has increased in the last 5 years among Kurds, Öztürk added: "In the past 5 years we have witnessed a referendum in South Kurdistan, the occupation of Afrin and then Serekaniye. The first action of the trustees imposed on our municipalities, ignoring and violating the people’s will, has been attacking the Kurdish language. Kurds see this and realize that our main issue is Kurdishness.

Today, we may not be able to convene a national congress in a short term, but at some point we have to agree; Kurds must take steps for their own benefit.” Emphasizing that the Kurdish people have the consciousness of national unity in 4 parts of Kurdistan, Öztürk said: "The Kurdish people are already giving instructions on this issue. When the invasion of the Turkish state against Rojava took place, the people of South Kurdistan boycotted Turkish brands and goods. We had to follow the instructions or the people will punish us. We always need to take into account the demands of the people. It's not a matter of party interests."