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.

The PYD accused Barzani of working with Turkey, while Barzani accused the PYD of working with the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. 

The PYD is one of the founding members of the "internal opposition party," the National Coordination Body (NCB), which is closer to Russia’s position of non-intervention. The other Syrian Kurdish bloc, the Barzani-backed KNC, joined the Western-backed Syrian National Coalition (SNC) after giving in to some concessions to the Kurds.