CIS Kurds support People's Congress decision to end truce

Interfax
May 31 2004

MOSCOW. May 31 (Interfax) - The International Union of Kurdish Public
Organizations, which unites Kurds in Russia and other CIS nations,
thinks the decision of the People's Congress of Kurdistan (the former
Kurdistan Workers' Party) to end its truce with the Turkish authorities
is well-founded.

"We think this decision is grounded, because the Turkish authorities
have done nothing to resolve the Kurdish problem, but have intensified
punitive operations during the cease-fire period," Union Deputy
Chairman Kamis Jabrailov told Interfax on Monday.

"Yet the Kurds who live in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan
and Armenia object to any use of force on the part of governments or
organizations, and want a peaceful solution to the Kurdish problem,"
he said.

"Kurds will not be the first to spill blood, but they will launch
an offensive if the Turkish army continues military operations,"
Jabrailov said.

A statement by the administration of the People's Congress of Kurdistan
was released last Sunday. It said the truce with Turkey, announced
five years ago after the arrest of party leader Abdullah Ocalan, is
"senseless," and they will resume hostilities. <>