We insist on intra-Kurdish dialogue – Kurdish opposition official  

Abdulhalim Sulaiman 

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The Kurdish National Council in Syria (ENKS, a group of Syrian Kurdish parties that is part of the opposition Syrian National Council) said on Wednesday that the launch of the first phase of the intra-Kurdish dialogue ended successfully and with a “political consensus."

“We are serious and insistent on the ‘crucial task’ to unify the Kurdish parties,” the ENKS leader Mohsen Taher told North Press. 

“The second phase will start in the near future.”  

In special statements to North Press, Taher said that the Democratic Union Party (PYD, the leading party in North and East Syria) is interested in the dialogue and that the US, that sponsors the dialogues, is closely watching the steps, pointing out that both parties will meet with delegations composed of seven people from each party.

 
Concerning ENKS' stance regarding a statement issued by Syrian opposition figures who refused the intra-Kurdish dialogue, Taher said: “That statement does not serve the Syrian national interest, the opposition interest, or the interest of neighboring countries,” adding, “The statement contained many inaccuracies. It smells of narrow intolerance.”  

Taher did not rule out the interference of the external parties to “disturb the Kurdish dialogue,” considering that the unity of the Kurds serves the Syrian situation and is in the interest of the opposition and regional states. 

“Our Council demands good-neighborly relations and non-interference in its internal affairs,” he said.  

PYD and ENKS, the two major factions among Syrian Kurdish parties, renewed negotiations in early November to resolve long-standing disputes after Turkey’s cross-border offensive in northern Syria in October.

About two weeks ago, SDF commander-in-chief Mazloum Abdi announced progress in unity talks between the PYD and ENKS.