The Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) wrote an open letter to Queen Mathilde of Belgium, calling for active Belgian engagement in support of the peace process and a democratic resolution to the Kurdish question in Turkey.
The KNK letter reads as follows:
“Your Majesty,
On the occasion of the Belgian economic mission to Turkey, conducted under your high patronage, the Kurdistan National Congress — KNK, based in Brussels, respectfully wishes to draw your attention to a matter of major historical importance: the peace process and democratic resolution of the Kurdish question currently emerging in Turkey.
For several months, a new political dynamic has been developing around the Kurdish question. This process, advanced on the Kurdish side by the Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, represents a valuable opportunity to bring an end to a conflict that has lasted for decades and has profoundly affected Turkey, the Kurdish people, the Middle East, and Europe.
The KNK believes that this dynamic must not remain fragile, informal, or dependent solely on Turkey’s internal political balances. It must be strengthened through concrete measures, framed by political and legal guarantees, and supported by credible international actors.
In this context, Belgium can play an important role. As a member state of the European Union, host country of the European institutions, and a state committed to dialogue, international law, democracy, and the peaceful resolution of conflicts, Belgium carries a particular responsibility.
Your visit to Turkey comes at a time when relations between Belgium and Turkey are expected to deepen across several areas, notably economic, diplomatic, industrial, and security cooperation. We understand the importance of these bilateral relations. However, we believe that a lasting partnership with Turkey cannot be separated from the fundamental principles of democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights, and the peaceful resolution of the Kurdish question.
For this reason, we respectfully call upon the Belgian authorities, on the occasion of this mission, to raise this issue clearly with their Turkish counterparts. Belgium should encourage Turkey to preserve this process, translate it into genuine political progress, and guarantee the fundamental political, cultural, and linguistic rights of the Kurdish people.
We also wish to express our concerns regarding the current position of the European Union. Despite the initial statements made at the beginning of this new political dynamic, the European Union has not yet assumed a sufficiently clear, concrete, and constructive role. Yet a process of such importance cannot be left without international follow-up, without mechanisms of support, and without political guarantees.
Historical experience demonstrates that a peace process left solely to internal power dynamics can become weakened, delayed, instrumentalized, or interrupted. It is therefore essential that an international actor — and particularly the European Union — monitor the development of this process, encourage the parties to move forward, and help create the conditions for a lasting democratic solution.
In this regard, Belgium can play a leading role within the European Union. It can help ensure that Europe does not remain a passive observer, but instead becomes a constructive, responsible, and committed actor in support of peace.
Accordingly, the KNK calls upon Belgium to convey several essential messages to the Turkish authorities:
• the need to preserve, continue, and concretize the process currently underway;
• the importance of a democratic and peaceful solution to the Kurdish question;
• the guarantee of the political, cultural, and linguistic rights of the Kurdish people;
• the establishment of conditions allowing the Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan to contribute effectively to the process;
• an end to policies of repression targeting Kurdish political representatives, elected officials, journalists, associations, and civil society actors;
• the involvement of the European Union as a body for monitoring, facilitation, and political guarantee.
The Kurdish question does not concern Turkey alone. It also concerns Europe. Millions of Kurds now live across the European continent, notably in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden. The democratization of Turkey, recognition of the rights of the Kurdish people, and the success of a peace process would have direct consequences for regional stability, European security, and the democratic cohesion of our societies.
Your Majesty,
It is our hope that this visit to Turkey will not only serve as an opportunity to strengthen economic relations between Belgium and Turkey, but also to convey a message of peace, justice, and democratic responsibility.
Belgium today has the opportunity to assume an essential role. It can help encourage Turkey to transform this fragile dynamic into a genuine peace process founded on dialogue, recognition of the rights of the Kurdish people, and a lasting political solution.
Please accept, Your Majesty, the assurances of our highest consideration.”