Although there have been attempts to open a Kurdish Community Center in the canton, where more than 300 families from Kurdistan live, at various times since 2008, they were all unsuccessful.

The building where the Democratic Kurdish Community Center (CDK) has finally been opened, is used jointly by international institutions including the Workers Party (POP), the Cuba-Swiss friendship group, Equomedia press organization and the organization of Chilean society, Alba Suiza.

The new Kurdish Cultural Center, which was inaugurated on Saturday, is aimed both at developing the social bond between the people of Kurdistan and making it a diplomatic center for the Kurds living in the canton.

Swiss Democratic Kurdish Community Center (CDK-S) co-chair Ismail Kardaş and members of the co-presidency council attended and delivered speeches at the opening act.

In his speech, the co-chair of the Bellizona Kurdish Community Center, Recep Akkamış said that it was exciting for them to have an institution representing the Kurds in the Ticino canton after many years trying to open one. Akkamış said: "Our door is open to all revolutionary and democratic peoples, especially the people of Kurdistan from the four parts."

CDK-S co-chair Ismail Kardaş started his speech by emphasizing the importance of the People's Assembly that emerged within the framework of the Democratic Confederalism paradigm envisaged by Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan.

Referring to the importance of partnering with revolutionary and internationalist institutions, Kardaş continued: " We thank our friends and internationalist friends who contributed to the realization of the opening of the centre for their efforts."

Kardaş continued: "The dirty policies of these sovereign powers lie behind the invasion of Kurdistan and the genocidal attacks on the Kurdish people. We will continue our struggle by organizing wherever we are."