Kurdistan-the press release

On the 19^th February 2025 Martin Round was confirmed as the next Mayor of the Borough of Maidstone at a Council Meeting in the Town Hall. His inauguration will be on the 17^th May.  

 

Within 24 hours of that moment he went to the Foreign Office to tie-up appropriate briefings from the Foreign Office to visit the Middle East.

 

He then departed for a fact-finding private mission to Kurdistan together with Cllr Karen Constantine of Kent County Council and Ihsan Qadir of the League of Kurdistan Regions and the former President of the TUC Roger Lyons, plus other selected members of British Kurdish community.

 

This was a privately funded initiative to hopefully develop a better understanding of what the region has gone through in recent years and to see how democracy works and the economy can trade on a wider scale.

 

Initially the fact finding started in Erbil in Iraq, where the Kurdistan Presidency made optimum opportunity to greet the delegates and support a journey to Rojava in Northern Syria. The delegates met many representations by different groups in Erbil and then Rojava.  

 

“We firstly went to establish bonds of friendship with a region that has seen considerable turmoil and hardship.   I personally wanted to meet local government regions to understand their structures and democracy, whilst hoping to find every and any opportunity for economic development and especially technology transfer and knowledge exchange where ideas and trade can be optimised. But it proved to be too early in many respects. They have had a very difficult time and it continues. The Rojava region on the Northern Syria/Turkey border still experienced daily skirmishes. Sadly the war continues”.

 

What we learnt:

 

Syria has new leadership, it is not communicating or engaging with its entire geographic or cultural population. This was a clear message from all political and religious groups, plus the businesses, the Unions and the community groups such as a very strong womens movement.

 

Syrians live in fear and mistrust of many. They know why many have fled to other parts of the world. They want them back. There are also people locked up “somewhere”, where are they?

 

Services, utilities, infrastructure in all aspects are in a poor state.

 

The area is ignored, disenfranchised and isolated.

 

Children are on the breadline, living from hand to mouth. 

 

Trade links are fractured, with NO BRIDGE to Iraq, daily skirmishes to Turkey and a “wall of ignorance” to the south.

 What we experienced:

The delegation stayed in protected grounds that had only cold dripping water and generator serviced electricity. It was MINUS 9 at night.

 

Those grounds were circled by  “Russian” helicopters from Turkey almost on arrival.  Red Cross marked vehicles carried military personnel with guns around us when we carried out some field visits such as the derelict Airfield.

Our driver and escorts at one point had to drive at excess speed over cratered roads to protect us from attack.

 

They met people that were charming but felt there was mistrust in some.

 

As a delegation of one Conservative in amongst a Labour led group they became friends and where a “double act” emerged and  bonded so very well.

 

What Martin will do:

 

In his Mayoral year, he will set up a Charity to raise funds and deliver projects to the women & children of Rojava. Small projects that will make a difference such as an exchange of people and skills.  He will also raise awareness of issues in events and speeches.

 

He will visit the Foreign Office and lobby MPs and other people, organisations and media.

 

He intends to revisit Kurdistan again soon. 

POST SCRIPT  This actually says very little in the big picture of things, but we have to be careful what we say and how we say it. Work continues and issues need to be addressed. The publicity in Iran, Iraq and beyond have led to many more press and media interests and MINIMAL local interest!