Debate on relations between Kurds and Azerbaijani Turks

An Answer to Amir Matin


Mutual respect and understanding is the only way to peaceful coexistenceamong Kurds and Azerbaijani Turks !
Kurdish Republic of Mahabad was established in Mukiryan territory which is less than half of Kurdish inhabited territories in Iran's geography and for the time being is part of Western Azerbaijan state administration. The whole "western Azerbaijan" ethnically and culturally could not be considered Kurdish or Azerbaijani. there are areas which are clearly Kurdish , Like Mahabad , there are areas which are mixed and there are clearly Azerbaijani Turkish inhabited areas , based on that when the question of territory comes up to the agenda of elected representatives of both peoples they should negotiate with each other and arrive at some kind of consensus .To write " Without their [Azerbaijani Turks ] support, a Kurdish self rule in the region will not be viable unless if we give up most of the Kurdish region(Mukrian) located in Azerbaican Gharbi ". From a Kurdish point of view this statement is strange because no one expects kurds to give up most of Kurdish region in Mukiryan. As it was mentiond above the present designation is an administrative division and not a reference to a specific ethnic group.As Dr. Elturan had mentioned in this debate; there is an Azerbaijani Turkish TV station airing from USA , which contrary to all broadcasting criteria and moral principles spreads lies and fabricated news about Kurdish people and Kurdish political organizations. Most of the time It uses the same terminology and accusations which are part of official propaganda in Iran and Turkey against the Kurds. So far no democratically minded Azerbaijani formations objected openly to this war mongering vis-à-vis Kurds, But certainly this anti-Kurdish expedition is not representative of Azerbaijani feelings towards the Kurdish people .The task of Kurdish intellectuals and Kurdish political parties should not be a reactive position to such racist and cheap propaganda , rather ,it should be a proactive and open support tothe national rights and identity seeking movement of Southern Azerbaijanis based on mutual respect and understanding and without giving up Kurdish demands and reality.What I wrote About Naghade was not to "distort the history" , I consider that bloodshed as an ethnic strife which resulted into ordinary , innocent people killing each other, no matter the motives , That bloody incident was a great set back to Kurdish movement . I don't know if Dr. Matin have had the opportunity to read both Kurdish and Azerbijani Turkish accounts about Naghadeh massacre. if he does and if he is open to reason he will see that both groups were to blame.
HEJAR
Posted by: HEJAR September 15, 2006 05:52 PM
Source: http://blog.washingtonpost.com/postglobalinbox/2006/08/republic_of_kurdistan.html