07 June 2014

By Markaz Kavkaz

A historical conference was held in Istanbul, Turkey.

Representatives of Chechnya, Circassia, Dagestan, Tatarstan and Turkey gathered at the 2nd International Caucasus Conference" which was held in Istanbul Barcelo Eresin Hotel to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the genocide of Circassians by Russian invaders.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the conference, Murat Ozer, the leader of a Turkish human rights group IMKANDER, stated that on May, 21, 1864 Russian invaders staged a real genocide of Circassians and exiled them from their occupied country to different parts of the world.

Mr. Ozer reminded that Imam Shamil, who fought against the Russians until he had no soldier left, declared a ceasefire, and said:

"This date, the Russian army and generals who came to Sochi, declared that no Muslims could ever live in this Caucasus country land anymore, and that was the day when Russia was annexed this country. From that day on, most of Circassian tribes, the whole tribe of Ubihs, nearly 100,000 people, had to immigrate to Turkish Anatolia. Almost 4 million people emigrated. Independent historians confirm that about 500,000 Circassians lost their lives in Russian genocide".

Mr. Ozer also said that this Caucasian country was invaded within a few days by hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers who completely erased some tribes, adding that "the Caucasian peoples, such as Chechens, Circassians and Dagestanis suffered from the Russian genocide. We appeal to world that the world community proclaims 2014 as 'the year of major disaster' and recognizes of Caucasian Genocide, he said.

- "The conference was a glimmer of hope"

The previous Conference 2012 had the first major impact on Russian Genocide in the form of a meeting and paced a way to demand from Russia compensation for the sufferings.

IMKANDER's Chairman Murat Ozer said that 2012 was a turning point, and emphasized that bloody Russia first sent a diplomatic protest note to Turkey, and then took action against IMKANDER by complaining on at United Nations Security Council.

Mr. Ozer said that Russian invaders forced the Caucasians to choose between the two alternatives.

"It wants to be cooperated by surrendering, and it wants to knuckle us down. Or it says, ‘I make you marginalized in the world, brand you as terrorists, and you wouldn't even make a noise. The entire world would know you as ravenous terrorists, not as the people who defend their own country, land and religion.'

‘We are to defend our cause, our beliefs by academical, political and historical means, By using every tool, we could stand together against the invading Russian imperialism'. This conference is a small step. I hope that the Caucasian people is going to reach a further step by their will."

- "United independent Caucasus"

The first conference published a Declaration of the whole Caucasus representing the common will, Mr. Ozer said. Instead of ethnic nationalism. The Declaration emphasized: "We are the Caucasian people", and while America and Russia take steps against Muslims, the fully independent united Caucasus is demanded.

Mr. Ozer stated that this Declaration destroyed all Russia's calculations:

"This is also being introduced in the Caucasus; Kadyrov will also provide suggestions for solutions such as collaborative management of real solutions, which simply means the surrender. For this reason, he builds mosques in Chechnya, which in fact else does not change anything. The Russian flag will waive there, as long as Caucasians carry Russian passports while Russian continues undaunted fight against the Caucasian people".

"You will manage it by uniting"

The Finnish moderator of the conference, a human rights activist Mikael Storsjo, said after the opening ceremony that the event was successful in uniting all the Caucasian people. He said:

"The Caucasian people cannot defy the great enemy, coming from the north. It will only succeeded if it is united. I'm coming from Finland. My grandfathers made it. I hope that one day you will also overcome".

At the conference, there were presentations by Qatari Ahmad Al Hawari "Occupation and Terror in Russia's Caucasus Policy", Belgian Danilbek Edilkhanov "Results of the Greater Caucasus Exile and the Holocaust", Jordanian Dr. Shisha Osama al-Thani "Russian Occupation of the Caucasus As a Result of Assimilation and Cultural Corruption", Georgian Gela Khamaladze "New Trends in Imperialism in the Caucasus", and Shamil Magomedov from Dagestan "Human Rights Violations".

Representatives from Jordan, Poland, Belgium, Austria, Egypt and Germany participating in the conference met Circassian refugees whose parents were exiled in 1864 and 1944.

Chechen, Ingush, Circassian, Dagestani, Tatar, Kumuk and Karachay delegates belonging to the different peoples of the Caucasus took part in the first working meeting of the Congress of the Caucasian People.
Decisions of the Congress of the Caucasus People

At the Congress, delegates chose members of the Committee and the President.

The Caucasian peoples represented by 60 delegates in the Congress chose by a majority vote Akhmed Umarov as the President of the Congress.

The Congress decided on behalf of the Diaspora in various countries to engage in political and cultural activities.

At the end of the third hour-long convention, the delegates adopted a joint Declaration.

It says that, while Russian invasion of Ukraine and Georgia put these countries under Russian's threat, a solidarity message is being sent to these countries.

The Congress also drastically condemned Russia for its occupation of Crimea and emphasized "essential issues of Crimean Tatars in Crimea".

The Congress of Caucasian People also decided to open its formal representation office in Turkey.