Melek Avci

 

ANKARA - Journalist Benedetta Rossi, a member of an international delegation, told the international arena, which is trying to destroy Rojava, that “it is very important to keep Rojava and this experience that has been going on for years alive because Rojava has a lesson to teach to what is happening all over the world.”

 

Journalist Benedetta Rossi, who was part of the international delegation that came to Ankara on 3 December to apply for a meeting with PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan, drew attention to the importance of Abdullah Öcalan's role in the ongoing war in the Middle East and Syria.

 

‘Mr Öcalan's point of view must be taken into account in the peace process’

 

Benedetta Rossi said that the attention of the whole international arena is now focussed on the start of the peace process and the freedom of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan, and that her visits to Turkey are important in this context. Benedetta Rossi said: "The situation is more complicated than we thought. That is why we need to keep the international attention on the whole process alive, especially in the light of what is happening in the North East of Syria. During our visit to Istanbul we met with Mr Öcalan's lawyers and talked a lot about his current conditions, his isolation in İmralı for 25 years and the fact that he has not had the opportunity to meet with anyone except for the last meeting with his nephew. So we discussed how it is high time for the situation to change and how necessary it is to take Mr Öcalan's point of view into account in this new peace process."

 

‘Everyone is striving for results’

 

Benedetta Rossi stated that after her visit to Istanbul, she came to Ankara and conveyed to the Ministry of Justice their request for a meeting with İmralı, as well as meeting with DEM Party MPs and sharing in detail about İmralı, "Their point of view was very important. We developed a relationship and dialogue that will continue mutually. My impression was that everyone in the international arena should be involved in the process as much as possible and that everything that can be done is being done in order for this process to finally come to light."

 

‘The right to hope has two fundamental importance’

 

Benedetta Rossi pointed out that the exercise of the right to hope has two main importance: ‘The right to hope is very important and there are two main reasons for this; I think it is important to hope as a human being. We have talked a lot about Mr Öcalan's right to hope because when you are kept in the same conditions forever, you are deprived of this right. So it would be important to meet him both for Mr Öcalan and internationally to keep this right to hope alive. It will be important to make sure that his point of view is heard in the peace process and that perhaps in the future we can all hope for his release because his work is such a fundamental part of what has been worked out for the Kurdish people, for the Kurdish community.

 

‘Keep the feet in two different shoes’

 

Benedetta Rossi characterised the government's calls for a ‘process’ on the one hand, and its disciplinary bans on visits on the other, as “keep the feet in two different shoes”, meaning that it is stuck between two ideas or roles: “Sometimes I think the Turkish government is trying to keep its feet in two different shoes. So maybe they want to give the impression that something is changing for the better, but then things don't actually change, and that's the case with what's happening in north-eastern Syria. So I think they formally call for a peace process. But what's actually happening is that they're making it impossible because they're sending in troops. So it's basically what you just said. They have this kind of double posture of saying something but not doing it. Let's say they don't put their money where their mouth is, which means they don't act consistently. And that is very confusing.”

 

‘Rojava has a lesson to teach the world’

 

Pointing out that the war in the Middle East is not independent from the isolation, Benedetta Rossi said that the Autonomous Administration of Rojava-Northern and Eastern Syria, which is currently under threat, is a hope for the region:  “This is the right system for the Middle East, but I think it can be a hope for the global war regime in general. That is why it is very important to keep Rojava and this experience that has been going on for years alive because it tells us an alternative way to be in a peace process and a democratic process. For this reason, I think Rojava has a lesson to teach not only to the Middle East, of course primarily for the Middle East, but also to what is happening all over the world. Today we see Russia's conflict in Ukraine, many ongoing conflicts, the genocide in Gaza. So I think that the Rojava model can teach a lot to the entire world right now and I think it will be fundamental to preserve it absolutely. And of course it is important that Mr Öcalan to be free because he can lead this whole process. We all know how important all his work is and what he has done has fuelled the whole process and the entire experience of Rojava.”

 

‘We need to put pressure and take to the streets’

 

“We have to follow and talk about what is happening with all our attention,” said Benedetta Rossi, ’Even if the international community does not seem to be listening, we must continue to follow and talk about it as we do every day. Our governments must put pressure on these international institutions, on all the institutions that are fuelling these conflicts right now. That is the only way. And in order to achieve that, we have to keep talking about it, we have to talk about it, and if necessary we have to take to the streets, which I think will be necessary. As I said, keep writing about it. So that it will be impossible for them not to see it. That's what we need to do because I think if the grassroots movement, the press and these international delegations work together, if they make a joint effort, they can achieve a lot and there is a joint effort right now to draw attention to this issue.’ 

 

‘We will work to prevent the destruction of Rojava’

 

Benedetta Rossi noted that they are following very closely what is happening in the North East of Syria and said: "I am also following very closely and we are organising several meetings in the city where I live to discuss what is happening now and to create a focal point because the situation is not very clear at the moment. So some people are saying: ‘Oh, now Syria is free.’ No, no. The media is trying to portray this experience as Syria getting rid of a dictator. Of course, I am not saying that getting rid of a dictator is not good, but we don't know what will happen. And of course what we know is that it is not good for Rojava. They are trying to destroy it and we don't want that to happen. We are very, very worried here, I can say that, and we will try to find out how we can help as much as we can."