Former President of East Timor stated that one first step towards such a process of genuine dialogue in Turkey is for all sides to stop military campaigns, Ankara to release of Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan and other prisoners. Horta remarked that the Kurdish fighters, including the very brave Kurdish women combatants, have won worldwide admiration.

José Ramos Horta served as the President of East Timor from 2007 to 2012, the second since independence from Indonesia in 1999. He was previously the Prime Minister of the country from 2006 June to 2007 May, and a co-recipient of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize.

From 1975 to 1999 Timor-Leste, (formerly known as East Timor), a small island and former Portuguese colony at the bottom of the Indonesian archipelago, was invaded and occupied by Indonesia. Over the course of the 24 year invasion, one third of the Timorese population perished.

In exile for the entire occupation, Horta worked to build a human rights network to defend the rights of the Timorese. In 1996, José Ramos-Horta and Timorese Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize “for their work toward a just and peaceful solution to the conflict in East Timor.”

José Ramos Horta spoke to ANF English service regarding the Kurdish question and the struggle of Kurdish people.

'KURDS AMONG THE BRAVEST FIGHTERS IN THE WORLD'

What is your general opinion of the Kurdish question?

The people of the whole Kurdistan region are the most victimized in history, victims of the Ottoman rule and of the post Ottoman redesign of the region, and are among the bravest fighters in the world.

Have you ever been to Kurdistan territory or thought of doing so?

I have never visited Kurdistan territory; was never invited; and I do not think that a visit by me would really help advance the cause of freedom of the great Kurdish people whom I admire.

What similarity do you find between your struggle and the Kurdish struggle?

Our struggle for freedom was dismissed as a "lost cause", an "impossible dream". We were and are a people of only one million while Indonesians are 250 million people; besides the dictatorship in Indonesia was supported by every major western power, particularly, the us, Canada, Australia, Germany, UK., Japan, etc. but the "lost cause" and the "impossible dream" triumphed over force. We are free, at peace with ourselves and with Indonesia and the rest of the world.

'EVERYONE IN SYRIA MISCALCULATED, TURKEY MISSED A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY'

What would you have to say regarding the Rojava revolution and the ongoing chaos in Syria?

Everyone in Syria miscalculated: the democratic opposition, Europe and the U.S. underestimated the Assad regime; the opposition made unreasonable demands such as the immediate resignation of Assad, refusing to engage the regime in dialogue and compromise. The Assad regime also did not offer genuine dialogue and compromise. the U.S., British and French, euphoric after their Pyrrhic victory in Libya thought the same would happen in Syria. This was a miscalculation. Libya never had a serious, professional army. They had lots of weapons but not really professional troops. Syria was a whole different matter, with a formidable military force with real experience. Plus a powerful ally, Russia. Turkey also completely miscalculated.

I think Turkey missed a golden opportunity to help defusing the conflict in Syria; it should not have taken such confrontational approach against the Assad regime. It should have been more prudent, more neutral, and help all parties to find a realistic arrangement in Syria.

Basing on your experiences, which course do you think will the tension in Kurdistan and the Middle East take in the coming period?

Regrettably the situation seems to be beyond resolution. Russia's direct intervention in Syria further exacerbates the conflict but I do not think that Russia, as a super power, with long standing interests in Syria, could have continued to stay out of the conflict while the us and other countries were supporting the opposition.

The same tame, the stakes are so high for all parties, and the risks of a wider war so real, that I believe the U.S., Turkey and Russia should swallow their pride, set aside their own interests, and work harder now to find a solution for Syria and the whole region.

'KURDISH LEADERSHIP MADE REAL OVERTURES'

What do you believe could be done by internationally known people like you yourself for the resolution of the Kurdish question?

I think full independence of the Kurdistan region of Iraq is an irreversible fact. And the Iraqi government should adjust itself to this realty; the two sides should work out an agreement whereby the new independent Iraq Kurdistan will maintain strong links - people to people relations, cultural, social, economic, as well as security cooperation.

It is a test of the leadership of the two sides, a test of their wisdom. As for the Kurdish question in Turkey, it is regrettable and unwise that the Turkish government continue to view and treat the Kurds as enemy. The Kurdish leadership, led by Öcalan, made real overtures and stopped armed violence. Instead of releasing Öcalan from prison the Turkish government continued to keep him imprisoned. 

The Kurds are a very ancient people, betrayed many times by every major power, including the U.S.; they have survived every betrayal, every war waged against them. They are not going to be defeated by anyone no matter the force used against them.

'ANKARA MUST RELEASE ÖCALAN AND OTHER PRISONERS'

What sort of a contribution do you think Öcalan's freedom will provide to the resolution of the Kurdish question?

While I believe that full Independence for Iraq Kurdistan is irreversible, like Kosovo, there is still a chance for Turkey to resolve the conflict with its Kurdish population through a genuine dialogue and recognition of Kurdish identity and wider political autonomy; there are successful examples of very diverse ethnic communities living peacefully in the same country, enjoying ample freedoms; good examples are India and Indonesia.

Turkey should have learned by now, from its futile military campaigns against the Kurds, that the use of force is entirely counter-productive, and should have learned from the positive examples of India and Indonesia how to reconcile different ethnic and religious communities within their countries.

One first step towards such a process of genuine dialogue is for all sides to stop military campaigns, Ankara to release of Mr. Öcalan and other prisoners.

'THE BRAVE STRUGGLE OF KURDS RECOGNISED AND RESPECTED AROUND THE WORLD'

Are you of the opinion that the Kurdish struggle is recognized around the globe as widely as should be?

The injustices they have endured in the hands of many powers for many generations and their brave struggle for freedom are increasingly being recognised and respected around the world. They must continue to avoid the use of extreme violence and terrorism against civilians, in Turkey or anywhere in the world. Kurdish communities living in peaceful democracies in Europe and Australia should avoid violent demonstrations; Turkey's diplomatic personnel and properties and businesses should be respected.

If you engage in acts of vandalism and destruction of property and murder you lose;you lose your own moral strength; when you murder an innocent person or a captured combatant you are not better than your enemy who kill your non-combatants; and you lose international sympathy.

So my advice: never use violence against Innocent people; do not set and detonate bombs in public places when you know very well it is going to cause the death of many innocent people, young men, women and children, elderly.

'KURDISH FIGHTERS WON WORLDWIDE ADMIRATION'

What does the Kurdish struggle against ISIS mean to you?

The Kurdish fighters, including the very brave Kurdish women combatants, have won worldwide admiration. They remind me of the brave Russians who fought off the powerful Nazi hordes during World War II, in many battles in Europe and Russia; the most celebrated is the battle of Stalingrad that remains one of the greatest epics of heroism in humanity's history.

Another issue: while innocent non-Muslims have been victimised by ISIS and other extremist groups, many, many more Muslims, in Afghanistan and Pakistan, in Nigeria and Libya, Iraq and Syria, than any other people of other religions died of sectarian violence.

This is first a war within Islam and second a war waged by extremist elements against the west. through centuries, there have been religious wars that lasted decades. Europe İs no stranger to religious wars.

The wars within Islam are happening centuries after the Christian wars İn Europe that resulted İn millions of Europeans fleeing to what is today the U.S., the most powerful nation on earth.

We must avoid stigmatising Arabs and Muslims in general. The millions of moderate Muslims living around the world, whose beliefs and views of the world are just like mine and yours, suffer doubly. They suffer from pressure and violence against them by extremist elements, and they suffer from suspicion, discrimination and exclusion in the countries of the west where they live simply because they are Muslims. Non-Muslims expect moderate Muslims to speak out more in denouncing extremism and they have done so countless times. But we, non-Muslims, also should do more to show sympathy and solidarity towards Muslim minorities living in the U.S., Europe, Canada, Australia, etc, embrace them, embrace particularly the youth. It is a fact that Muslims living in the west feel excluded and discriminated and are sometimes subject to abuse and violence.