FINAL STATEMENT OF THE FOURTH KURDISTAN NATIONAL CONGRESS

London 10-11/10/1998

The opening speeches of the congress in English:

In the first session of the first day 10/10/1998, speech were made by: Mr. Jawad Mella, General Secretary of the Kurdistan National Congress; Dr. Jemal Nebez, the First Councilor of the Congress; Mr. David McDowall, British Writer, (Author of A Modern History of the Kurds); Mr. Bruce Kent, Researcher of the Kurdish problem, from Britain. Miss Sonia Watts, Researcher of the Kurdish problem; Mrs Miria Kultalahti, widow of the late Rahbar Jalal Mamish, from Finland; Ms. Karen Dabrowska, Writer and Journalist specialising in Kurdish and Middle East affairs; Mr Jeremy Corbyn, Member of Parliament, Britain.

There was a large public presence of foreign guests, friends of the Kurdish people from Britain and other countries.

During this session Lord Jeffery Archer sent a phone message congratulating and wishing success to the congress.

Next, the following letters and phone messages of congratulations to the congress from Kurdish and foreign organisations and dignitaries were read:

Mr. Toni Blair, The Prime Minister of Britain, Mrs. Margaret McDonagh of the British Labour Party; Mrs. Elisabeth Johnson of the British Liberal Democrats Party; Lord Hylton, member of the British House of Lords, Baroness Cox, member of the British House of Lords; Mr Stan Newns, member of the British Parliament; Mrs Ann Clwyd, member of the British Parliament; Mrs. Clair Short, member of the British Parliament & Minister for Overseas Development; Mr M. Whitlam, General Secretary of the Red Cross; Dr. Mirella Galletti, Italian Researcher of Kurdish affairs; Mr David Adamson, British Writer and author of The Kurdish War and 1964 Division; Professor Khalil Rashidian and Professor E. W. Anderson, Durham University; Madam Joyce Blau, Lecturer of Kurdish language, Sorboune University; Mr Michael Jackson of Channel 4, British TV; Mr Muhammad Al-Fayed, owner of Harrods stores; Dr. Carlo Boldrini, President of Kurdish Cultural Association, Italy; Madam Laura Shrider, Italian writer and specialist in Kurdish affairs for 25 years; Mrs July Green of the American National Geographic Society; Madam Ann Barnet, Journalist and Researcher of Kurdish affairs, Switzerland; Mr Liveo Sousa, Italy; Mr Muhammad Ali of the British organisation CARDERI.

The Kurdish Organisations and dignitaries who participated in the KNC activities:

Dr Jemal Nebez, Councilor of the Kurdistan National Congress, Mr Sirwan Kawsi and Mr Ali Rahimi, representing the Kurdistan Independence Party; Mr Muhamad Qaradaghi, representative of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan-Iraq, Mr Cankurd, representative of the Hevkari organisation in Germany, Mr Bakir Diko, from Kurdish Unity Party in Syria, Sheikh Latif Mariwani, representative of (KAK), Mr Bruska Ibrahim and Mrs Armgard Ibrahim, representing the Kurdish Academy for Science and Art, Dr Muzafar Bartumah, representative of the Kurdistan Islamic Party, Mr Shirko Zeinalush, Secretary of the Western Kurdistan Association in Britain, Mrs Ghazal Sido, representative of the Democratic Union of Kurdistan of Syria, Mr Khasrew Saya representative of the Iraqi Labour Communist Party, Mr Khalid Rashid, Director of the Kurdish Division of Swedish TV, Mr Muhamad Juri, Director of the Kurdish Division in German Radio, Mr Hama Rahid Haras of the Kurdish National Party, Mr Alan Kakaha, representative of the Media newspaper in Canada, Dr Ahmad Babeker, President of the Kurdish Cultural Centre in Canada, Mr Abu Tara, Chief Editor of the Voice of Kurdistan newspaper in Austria, Mr Muhamad Mahmood and Mr Sarteep Kader, representing Alai Islam magazine, Mr Rizgar Saleh, Engineer, representative of Student and Youth Union of Kurdistan, Mr Aziz Aqrawi (former Minister, General and leading member of the Kurdish revolution of 1961-1975), Mr Atta Mufti and Salar Hamarash, representing Peyam newspaper, Mr Omed Saeed Gewhar, President of the Kurdish Children Association in Germany.

Also many Kurdish national dignitaries attended the congress from all over the world amongst whom were:

Mr Qutbadin Ozar, Mr Muhamad Doran, Mr Ghafur Amin, Dr Pola Khanaqa, Mr Farhad Khanaqa, Mr Walid Aso and Dr Kamal Sido from Germany. Mr Khalid Kawan from USA. Miss Farida Jawary and Miss Dalal Rasul from Red Kurdistan / Armenia. Artist Sherko Jalal Mamish, Mrs Suzan Mamish, Dr Mamad Jamo, Mrs Zine Jamo, Mr Aksen Hasan from France. Dr Izzat Sido and Artist Sardar Ali from Italy. Dr Jamal Rashid Ahmad and Mr Latif Jamal Ahmad from Holland. Dr Sheikh Mazhar Naqshabandi, Sheikh Asad Naqashbandi, Mrs Parwin Mushir Waziri, Mrs Malika Smith, Mr Noori Noori, Mr. Shamal Ali, Mr Noori Bashir, Mr Abdulqader Dabaghi, Mr Ali Karimi, Mr Aso Aziz, Mr Ibrahim Kader Mustafa, Mr Muhamad Sali, Mrs Amina Dabaghi, Mrs Amin Kharazi, Dr Rizgar Amin, Dr Aza Abdullah, Mr Abbas Salim, Mr Sherzad Jabrail, Sheikh Mansour Al-Hafid, Sheikh Dara Jamil, Mr Hussein Kader, Mrs Kwestan and Dr Sami Khafaf, Mr Shirwan Rashid, Artist Karim Rashid, Mr Babaker Drai, Dr Mariwan Omar, Dr Kardo Khanaqa, Mr Sabah Ghalib, Mr Taha Tawfiq, Mr Awat Mustafa, Mr Yekti Gulbaran, Mr Muhamad Jaza, Mr Mushir Galali, Mr Karzan Krekar, Mr Sabah Yassin, Mr Ismail Lawa, Mr Sarwar Mirza Ghafur, Mr Khalid Sheikh Al-Islami, Miss Shnow and Nigeen Sheikh Al-Islami, Mr Lukman Muhamad, Mr Zara, Miss Nariman, Mrs Sophie Tod, Mrs Khaje Ahmad, Mr Farhad Ahmad, Dr Ibrahim Abdallah, Mr Rashid Ibrahim, Mr Orkhan Abdallah, Mr Shabaz, Zahid, Shemal, Dara, Zana, Amanj, Rustam, Kamal, Khusraw and others.

On the Second Day of the Congress 11/10/1998:

The Members of the Congress continued analysis of the situation in Kurdistan and the following practical decisions were taken:

1- After discussion and alterations to the points of the constitution of the Kurdistan National Congress, voting took place and it was approved as the constitution to be implemented from this date forward.

2- Since those present were but a small number of members of the Kurdistan National Congress both inside and outside the homeland, the participants voted to deputise the General Secretary and Councillors of the congress to chose suitable candidates from those present and other members in Kurdistan and abroad to work in the various committees of the Congress as stated in the constitution.

3- Forming a committee to follow up the question of establishing the Kurdish Government in exile to carry out communications inside Kurdistan with organisations and dignitaries of Kurdistan, and giving them another chance to explain the necessity of forming the Kurdish Government in exile, and inviting them to participate in the fifth congress, which shall be dedicated specifically for the issue of announcing the Kurdish Government in exile, which cover all regions of Kurdistan to represent the Kurdish nation (40 million) on international scene as a nation that has the right for independence. Otherwise, at least for those organisations and dignitaries that has certain connections, which prevent them from participating- not to stand as an obstacle in the path of the Kurdish state i.e. not to be hostile to the Kurdish state, even if they are not able to work for it.

4- In additions to many Kurdish organisations affiliated to the Congress the membership of the following organisations was approved: The Kurdish Children Organisation in Germany, The Kurdish Academy for Science and Art in Sweden, and the Kurdish Cultural Centre in Canada.

The Recommendations of the Congress:

1- The congress requests that all Kurdistan organisations wherever they are, should solve the problems between them peacefully through dialogue and to end the situation of internal fighting.

2- The congress requests from the parties in Southern Kurdistan to carry out free elections with more democratic conditions such as the abolition of the 7% requirement ratio in order to make it possible for wide range of political sectors to participate in making of political decisions, and to give an opportunity to vote to the Kurds in exile, and also (on the same election cards) carry out a referendum among the Kurdish people to find out whether they want to be as part of Iraq or to have their own independent Kurdish state.

3- The congress called for advantage to be taken of the recent agreement in Washington to support peace and stability, and to enhance it even more to insure the independence of the Kurdish nation, that is by asking the USA to allow the use of airports in Kurdistan to establish direct relations with the world without the need for mediating with the neighbouring countries.

4- The congress thanks all dignitaries, institutions and organisations that participated in its works or sent messages by letters or by phone and especially to Mr Tony Blair, the Prime Minister of Britain, the country which hosted the congress in its capital London. The congress ended by the Kurdish national hymn "Ai Raqib".