Panel discussion :The Kurdish Role in the New Middle East – Organized by the BDP Representative Office in the USA

                                      At The National Press Club – Monday, 28 October 2013, 09:00 a.m. – 05:00 p.m.

** DRAFT PROGRAM – PANELISTS AND MODERATORS TO BE CONFIRMED **

First Session: 09:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. – In Conference Room Holeman

Kurds as Agents of Change in the Middle East

Moderator:Prof. Hisyar Ozsoy (Assistant Prof. of Anthropology, University of Michigan-Flint) (Confirmed)

 

Speakers

  • PYD Chairman Salih Muslim / Member of the Supreme Kurdish Supreme Council in Syria (Confirmed)
  • A representative from the KRG-Iraq, Mahmut Osman (To be Confirmed)
  • A representative from Iranian Kurds — Kejal Rahmani (Confirmed)
  • Erbil conference representative – Kemal Kerkuki (To be Confirmed)
  • A representative from Turkey Kurds – Fayik Yagizay (Confirmed)

Questions and discussion with moderator and audience members

Second Session: 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – In Conference Room Holeman

The Kurds of Syria and their Vision for the Future

 

Moderator:Mutlu Civiroglu ( Reporter, Political Analyst on Kurdish Issue) (Confirmed)

 

–          Sinem Mohamed  (Co- President of Peoples Assembly in Rojava)  (Confirmed)

–          Amberin Zaman (The Economist Turkey Correspondent,. Columnist of Taraf)(Confirmed)

–          Kamuran Haj Abdo (Member of Kurdish National Council (KNC) Foreign Relations Commitee (To be Confirmed)

–          Saif Badrakhan (Rapresentative of Kurdistan National Congress In U.S – KNK) (Confirmed)

 

Questions and discussion with moderator and audience members

Third Session: 01:30 p.m. – 03:00 p.m. In Conference Room Holeman

The Imrali Peace Process: Can Turkish-Kurdish Relations be Renewed?

Moderator: Prof. Mehmet Gurses (Associate professor of Political Science at Florida Atlantic University) (Confirmed)

  • Cengiz Candar (Journalist, Columnist)(Confirmed)
  • Ayla Akat Ata ( MP From Peace and Democracy Party –BDP)(Confirmed)
  • Aliza Markus (Journalist and Writer)(To be Confirmed)

Questions and discussion with moderator and audience members

Fourth Session: 03:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – In Conference Room Holeman

“The U.S., Turkey and the Kurds: Towards a New Vision?”

Moderator: Michael Werz (Senior Fellow at Center for American Progress)(Confirmed)

Speakers Selahattin Demirtas (Co-President of BDP) (Confirmed)

  • Gerry Connolly (D) (Co-ChairofCongressional Caucus on U.S.-Turkey Relations and Turkish) (To be Confirmed)
  • Rep. Jared Polis (D) (Co-Chair of Kurdish-American Congressional Caucus)(To be Confirmed)
  • James Jeffrey (Former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey) (Confirmed)

 

Questions and discussion with moderator and audience members