Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani arrived in Turkey early this morning along with the famous Kurdish singer, Sivan Perwer.
Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani arrived in Turkey early this morning along with the famous Kurdish singer, Sivan Perwer.
President Barzani spoke in Diyarbakir, Turkey's largest Kurdish city, telling the crowd "The foundations for peace have been laid."
"We thank Erdogan for giving us this chance. This is an important and historic day. I am here in Diyarbakir with you and bring greetings of peace from Kurdistan to the people of Turkey", he began.
"This is the era of accepting one another and living as brothers. The time for unity in the Middle-East has arrived," he said.
"We have tried war and it did nobody any good. It is time to end the shedding of young Turkish and Kurdish blood."
Barzani called for everyone to cooperate, saying "I want my Kurdish brothers and Turkish brothers to support this peace project.
The struggle for peace is a difficult struggle [but] no matter how long the road to peace may be, it is still better than one hour of war."
He added: "It was impossible to speak in Kurdish 15-20 years ago like this. However, I speak here in Kurdish and this is a result of the promotion of brotherhood in Turkey.
I believe that this process will end in success, but we must put all our efforts into it."
He completed his speech by chanting, "Long live Turkish-Kurdish brotherhood, long live peace, long live freedom!"
Masoud Barzani and the celebrated Kurdish singer, Sivan Perwer, passed through the Habur Border Gate early on Saturday into Turkeys southeastern province of Sirnak, where crowds gathered to welcome him.
Accompanied by about 20 cars, Barzani and Perwer were welcomed by Emin Dindar, the Sirnak Justice and Development Party MP; the Deputy Governor of Sirnak, Mustafa Akgun; and Sirnak Security Chief, Avni Usta.
The two arrived in Diyarbakir hours later to attend inauguration and mass wedding ceremonies as the guest of Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
There, they were welcomed by Mehdi Eker, the Minister of Food, Agriculture and Livestock; the Governor of Diyarbakir, Mustafa Cahit Kirac; and the independent Diyarbakir MP, Leyla Zana, at the Green Park Hotel, where they stayed for two days.
A big crowd also rushed into the streets to welcome Barzani and Perwer as they headed to their hotel.
Perwer, who has been in voluntary exile since fleeing Turkey in 1976, gave a joint concert with Ibrahim Tatlises in Diyarbakir.
When asked how it felt to be back in Turkey, Sivan Perwer said he felt quite normal and was ready to serve the peace process in Turkey. Speaking in front of thousands, he said the assimilation process in Turkey had ended, and the era of peace and friendship had begun.
"Turkey's Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is the architect of this day of peace," he said. "We are grateful to everyone who has striven to enable this peaceful atmosphere."
He continued: "Some rotted in jails, some were tortured, others left the country like me.
I hope that every community will lend each other a hand in peace.
These lands have been the stage for many historical moments and revolutions. Akkadians, Sumerians, Persians, Abbasids, Ottomans and many others have reigned here."
Ibrahim Tatlises, one of Turkey's most famous folk singers, added, "Whoever serves peace is a good human being." The two then went on to sing a duet.
"We will see a historic process in Diyarbakir this weekend," Erdogan said ahead of the visit, billing the event as crowning efforts to end a three-decade insurgency by Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants which has cost 40,000 lives.
Barzani's visit is about much more than local politics.
Prior to the visit, and following the official announcement by AK Party officials that Barzani would be visiting Diyarbakir and meeting Erdogan in Turkish Kurdistan this week, the topic became the headline of majority of Turkish media organizations.
After 21 years, Massoud Barzani visits Diyarbakir, read a headline of the Turkish daily Star. The newspaper also wrote that the meeting between Barzani and Erdogan will be very significant and will focus on the situation in Syrian Kurdistan, the peace process and the parties energy ties.
The headline in the Yeni Shafak newspaper claimed that by visiting Diyarbakir, Barzani is declaring his support for the peace process, and sending out a message to all the other leaders that the time of armed struggle is over.
The newspaper adds that the peace process is expected to continue and may, if needed, move to Erbil as well.
The famous Aksam newspaper describes the visit as a historical meeting in Diyarbakir.
The newspaper wrote that the meetings would focus on six major topics including the new Kurdistan-Turkey oil pipelines and establishing a new border point between the two countries in the Shirnak and Hakkari area.
The Radikal also labeled the visit a historical event, while Hurriyet claimed that Barzani would discuss the peace process and the disarmament of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) with Erdogan.
The Kurdish parties and leaders will also be welcoming President Barzani to Turkish Kurdistan. They also see his visit as a historic political event in the region, which will also impact on the political situation.
According to the Anadolu News Agency, the leader of the pro-Kurdish Rights and Freedoms Party (HAK-PAR), Kemal Burkay, argues that the visit will have positive results.
It is the first time such an event has taken place in Diyarbakir, Burkay told the Anadolu Agency. Diyarbakir has a symbolic meaning for the Kurds, and Barzani will officially visit the city as the President of the Kurdistan Region.
The Vice-Secretary General of the Peoples Democratic Party (HDP), Ertugrul Kurkcu, argues that receiving Barzani in Diyarbakir will be an important steps towards peace in the area and will open another door for dialogue between Kurdistan and Turkey.
Such visits will make the Kurds in the North, and especially Amed (the Kurdish name for Diyarbakir) happy, Kurkcu said.
Zekeria Baycioglu, the leader of the Huda Party, hoped the meeting would bring happiness to the Kurds in Turkey.
Aysel Tugluk, an independent MP in the Turkish Parliament, said the visit is very important and that Barzani would definitely be given a warm welcome in Diyarbakir. She described Barzani as a special figure: Barzani has a special character and we hope that we can welcome him and meet him as the BDP, Tugluk said.
Osman Baydemir, Head of the Municipality of Diyarbakir, stated that as a Kurd he was honored to receive Barzani in his city.
© The Kurdish Globe 2013
