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Syrian Kurds discuss differences over Geneva II

At the core of Syrian Kurd differences is tension between Kurdistan Democratic Party leader Massoud Barzani and Kurdistan Workers Party leader Abdullah Ocalan.
People sit in the back of a truck as they celebrate what they said was the liberation of villages from Islamist rebels near the city of Ras al-Ain in the province of Hasakah, after capturing it from Islamist rebels November 6, 2013. Redur Xelil, spokesman for the armed wing of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), said Kurdish militias had seized the city of Ras al-Ain and all its surrounding villages. Syrian Kurdish fighters have captured more territory from Islamist rebels in northeastern Syria
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BRUSSELS — The Kurdish parties in Syria are discussing how to participate in the Jan. 22 Geneva II conference after heavy tensions erupted between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) along with its affiliate, the Democratic Union Party (PYD). The Syrian Kurds now have one month to solve their differences or face a disunited voice at Geneva II with the risk of being ignored.

Tensions increased late October, after the KDP, led by Kurdistan Regional Government President Massoud Barzani, decided to refuse PYD leader Salih Muslim entry into Iraqi Kurdistan. Furthermore, on Nov. 11 the PYD announced it would move ahead with their interim administration plan without the support of most members of the Kurdish National Council (KNC), which is backed by Barzani.

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