On Tuesday Kurdish artists Şivan Perwer, Diyar Dersim, Hesen Şerif, Beser Şahin and Firmesk Hafız visited Shoresh Ismail, the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Minister of Peshmerga in Erbil (Hewlêr).
In the meeting, which was closed to the press, artists discussed the increasing tension between Kurdish forces, namely between the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).
“We have come to express our demands as Kurdish artists and we have been warmly welcomed. Some recent incidents taking place in our country are harming the Kurdish people. Our enemies, once again, want the Kurds to quarrel with each other for the sake of their own interests.” said Şivan Perwer, who shared a statement after the meeting.
Perwer stated that the achievements in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq have been very important for the Kurdish people. “This is a source of great hope for the Kurdish people. Kurdish people should protect this region as if it is the apple of their eye and should never allow an intra-Kurdish war here.” he said.
Talking about the schedule of the artists’ upcoming meetings, Perwer said, “Wherever we need to visit, we will go. As I have said before, Kurdish people are a very colourful and rich people, as are Kurdish artists. Kurdish artists are united and the work to achieve unity continues.”
Sharing more details relating to their demands and the outcome of their meeting with the Minister of Peshmerga, Diyar Dersim said, “We have shared our demands to the peshmerga of our country as the voice of the people. The Minister of the Peshmerga also promised us and told us that they do not seek a conflict either. If any conflict occurs, this would only serve the benefit of the occupying forces, the Turkish state. Everybody knows who is the enemy of the Kurdish people.”
Dersim went on: “Kurdistan peshmerga have defended the peace among Kurds until now with great patience. We demand Kurdistan peshmerga continue to play a positive role. No conflict shall take place between the Kurdistan peshmerga and the freedom guerilla.”
“Just as how they fought shoulder to shoulder in Kobane and Kirkuk,” Dersim added, “The guerilla and the peshmerga should also unite in such a spirit today. Do not let Kurdish mothers shed tears for their children whom they lost to an internal conflict.”
