More than four decades of conflict between the PKK and the Turkish state have resulted in thousands of deaths, hundreds of thousands of displaced people, and immense destruction on both sides. This war has not only inflicted deep wounds on the Kurdish and Turkish peoples but has also severely affected all ethnic and religious communities in the region.
In particular, the unresolved murders, village evacuations, and forced displacements of the 1990s were a tragic chapter for the Syriac people. The Syriacs, who have lived in Mesopotamia for millennia, were largely uprooted from their ancestral homeland during this period. Around 85 percent of the Syriac population was forced to migrate to European countries. This forced displacement led to profound cultural, social, and demographic losses for the Syriac community, the effects of which are still felt today.
Against this backdrop, we view Abdullah Öcalan’s call for peace, as well as the democratic steps taken by the Turkish state, as important signals. Our greatest wish is for this long-running war to finally come to an end, for the bloodshed to stop, and for all peoples of the region to live together in peace and mutual respect.
We hope that the peace process will create an environment where all peoples can freely express and preserve their identity, language, and culture. In this spirit, we call on all parties to act with prudence and foresight — with the goal of ensuring that the mistakes and suffering of the past are not repeated and that a future based on equality, justice, and freedom can be built.
As the European Syriac Union (ESU), we express our readiness to contribute to a lasting peace in every possible way and sincerely hope that this process will benefit all the peoples of the region.
