Institut Kurde de Paris

   The Kurdish Institute in Paris was established in February 1983 and is arguably the oldest and most important such organization currently in existence. It is an independent, nonpolitical, secular organization embracing Kurdish intellectuals and artists from many different countries, as well as Western specialists on Kurdish studies. The objectives of the Institute are to maintain a knowledge of the Kurds' language, history, and culture within their community; facilitate the integration of Kurdish immigrants to Europe; and present the Kurdish cause to the general public.

   During its first 10 years, the Kurdish Institute was a nonprofit association. It became a foundation under French law in 1993. The income from this arrangement helps with financial activities. The institute also receives funds from the French government's Social Action Fund and Ministry of Culture, as well as subsidies from the European Union (EU), the Swedish Agency for International

   Development, the Norwegian Foreign Ministry, the International Olof Palme Centre, the Norwegian Labour Movement, the Generali-tat of Catalonia, and several Italian municipalities.

   Kendal Nezan, an exiled ethnic Kurd from Turkey and physicist, has been the Institute's longtime director. The Institute has owned its own premises since 1987. It contains the largest Kurdish library in the Western world, with over 6,400 monographs in 23 different languages; collections of periodicals, newspapers, photos, and videos; as well as an archive of sound and musical recordings. The institute also issues a number of publications. It is located at 106, rue la Fayette, 75010, in a suburb of Paris. Its telephone number is 33 (0)1-48 24 64 64 and its fax number is 33 (0)1-48 24 64 66. Its website is www. fikp.org. Other important Kurdish institutes exist in Brussels and Washington, D.C.