AUSTRALIAN KURDISH COUNCIL(AKC) PRESS RELEASE

AUSTRALIAN KURDISH COUNCIL (AKC)

Adelaide 31^st October 2010

PRESS RELEASE

After two days meeting on 30^th and 31^st October 2010 at the city of Adelaide – Australia, a group of Kurdish academics, intellectuals, community leaders and activists announced the formation of the Australian Kurdish Council (AKC).

The Kurds are one of the most ancient people in the Near East. Currently there are about 35 million Kurds living in Kurdistan and a sizable population is living in Armenia, Israel, Azerbaijan, Lebanon, USA, Europe and Australia. Totaling approximately 40 millions, they constitute the largest nation of the World without an independent state. Kurdistan was divided between, Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey at the end of the World War 1.

Kurdish migration to Australia started in the 1960’s of the last century with waves of refugees arriving in the 1980’s and 1990’s. Currently there are between 15000 and 20000 Kurds living in Australia. The majority are living in both Sydney and Melbourne and the rest scattered in major Australian capital cities.

The AKC is a non-profit  organization representing Kurds from all parts of Kurdistan who are Australian citizens. The AKC’s membership is drown from Kurdish and non Kurdish intellectuals, academics, politicians, community leaders and activists who are committed to values of human rights and principals of equality and freedom.

The Board Members of the AKC are elected by its members and the guiding philosophy of the organisation is respect for the rule of law and human rights, which is the surest instrument for advancing Australian values and interests.

The Kurdish people have always been an important element in the fight for democracy and the realization of universal human values and standards in their divided homeland. Based on this inherited values, and in support of the legitimate aspirations of the Kurdish people for autonomy and self-determination. The AKC will bring together the Kurdish community and its supporters to create a stronger alliances and better communication between our community and the wider Australian community. The AKC endeavours to act as a representative body on behalf of the Australian Kurdish community’s interests and issues. It is main objective is to support peaceful resolution of the Kurdish national issue in accordance to the United Nation’s Charters.

As proud citizens of Australia, We will work for the development of a strategic and lasting relationship between Australian and people of Kurdistan including strengthening the business and economic ties between Australia and the Kurdistan Regional Government.

We call upon our Kurdish community to support the AKC as a platform for their voice, to raise their aspiration and suffering and as a venue for hosting our fellow Australians to educate them about our ever alive and old history, our colourful but so oppressed culture.

For more information about the Australian Kurdish Council (AKC) please contact:

1. Fazil Rostam – President        - on           0412008197     email: fazil.r@hotmail.com

2.      Twana Nuri – Media Officer – on 0401010784  email: twananwri@gmail.com

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