A Diaspora Armenian party delegate at an event in Iraqi Kurdistan spoke of the need for unity and cooperation in relations between the peoples and communities across the Middle East, including Armenians and Kurds, stressing that opposing each other in the past cost the two ancient peoples dearly.

Dr. Mikirdits Mikirditsian, Bureau Member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun, made the remarks in addressing the third convention of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Party (PUK) that opened in Iraqi Kurdistan’s Sulaimaniyah area on Tuesday.

In the message on behalf of the Armenian socialist party (Dashnaktsutyun) he said that “the common experience of our two nations indicates clearly that each time we were opposing each other we have both suffered severely and each time we have cooperated we have been able to defend our rights at least partially.”

“The lack of continuity in a common policy has had catastrophic consequences; Armenians have been subjected to genocide, which is until this date denied recognition by its main perpetrator, whereas Kurds have postponed indefinitely the realization of their right to statehood; this very autonomous region of Kurdistan within Iraq has given at last a hope for real self-government,” said Mikirditsian in a speech released by the ARF Press Office.

Dashnaktsutyun Political Director Giro Manoyan also reportedly attended the PUK congress.

Also attending the openings session of the congress, entitled “Strength Through Unity”, were Iraq’s President (and PUK’s Secretary General) Jalal Talabani and other senior officials of the country.

“As members of the Socialist International both our parties have a number of common ideals and common goals; among others peace, security and understanding between nations,” said Mikirditsian, according to the text of his message disseminated through media.

”The theme of the present congress is not only emblematic for the future well-being of the badly hit communities composing present-day Iraq, but also very important for the relations between the peoples of the region, particularly the Kurdish and Armenian peoples; there is a long common history of those two very ancient entities living side by side during the last three millennia in this part of the world, cradle of the most original world civilizations…”

“…The tragic lessons taught by modern history have to guide us in our future relations. Unity is in fact a precondition for strength. Strength is an instrument of war but at the same time an instrument of peace. On the other side peace is a stable condition only if it is based on justice. Let us agree, that our common space has been and is an arena where social, political, historical injustices are still awaiting for a solution,” concluded Mikirditsian.