In a message to the Kurdish Unity and Common Stance Conference ongoing in Qamishlo, the Co-Presidency of the KCK (Kurdistan Communities Union) Executive Council stated the following:

“Dear friends,

On behalf of Rêber Apo (Leader Abdullah Öcalan] and the freedom guerrilla of Kurdistan, we wholeheartedly greet the conference delegates and believe that this historic step will succeed. In the Rojava Revolution that started on July 19, 2012, more than ten thousand martyrs and wounded were suffered in the war led by YPG, YPJ, and SDF against the Baath regime, ISIS, the Turkish state, and its gangs. We salute all those who made any effort for the revolution, commemorate our martyrs with respect, and wish a successful recovery to all the wounded. There is no doubt that this revolution and these gains are the result of the efforts of Rêber Apo. It is the people who are loyal to their leadership that have created these gains and achievements. We are convinced that this revolution of freedom will be protected and developed on the basis of the paradigm of women’s freedom, the democratic nation, and social ecology.

Rêber Apo has devoted his entire life to the liberation of the Kurds from genocide, for them to regain their identity and persist in their existence. He has been resisting in prison for the last 26 years. Today, with his call and initiative, he has called for national unity for Kurds to have effective power and rights in this historical process where there are great concerns. Our people from all four parts of Kurdistan have embraced this call. For this reason, we congratulate the people of Rojava and all the forces and organizations and salute their honorable stance.

The main mission of the national conference is to protect the revolution of Rojava, through which the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East was created, which has turned the region into a garden of democracy for the peoples in the Middle East. This revolution has given strength to all the peoples of the region and has been a source of honor and pride for Kurds. We believe that this revolution will be a great source of strength not only for Syria but also for the development of democracy in the entire Middle East.

For years, we have been striving and working for the development of national unity. Because the preservation of the gains of the four parts of Kurdistan is only possible with national unity. When there is no unity, the occupying forces pit Kurdish political forces against each other, and this leads to the continuation of the occupation. We consider the national congress and national unity important for the existence of the nation. On this basis, we see the current conference as a historic step. We believe that this conference will improve national unity and attitude, will lead to the democratization of Syria, and will play a leading role in the struggle for the constitutional guarantee of Kurdish gains. Undoubtedly, alliances with Syria’s religious and belief communities, women, and democratic forces are also crucial for the success of this endeavor.

Kurds need a national congress more than ever. We hope that this conference will be the basis for a national congress and a step towards the unity of Kurds in the four parts of Kurdistan. On this basis, we once again salute the conference, and we want it to be known that we will always support your efforts for the victory of your struggle. As Rêber Apo said, “The time of the Kurds has come; the time for the freedom of the Kurds has come.”