ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) chief Mazloum Abdi on Monday received the representative of Masoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in northeast Syria. The SDF said Barzani has emphasized the importance of Kurdish unity in Rojava.
Barzani's representative, Hamid Darbani, "conveyed a message of support from President Barzani, emphasizing the importance of Kurdish unity and strengthening joint cooperation to face the current challenges in Syria," read a statement from the SDF.
Abdi "expressed his appreciation for President Barzani's message and support, stressing that the current stage requires concerted efforts among all Kurdish parties to achieve stability and safeguard the interests of the Kurdish people," added the statement.
Rudaw English reported the meeting before the publication of the statement, with informed sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, saying the meeting took place in Hasaka city.
A senior official from Rojava's main opposition coalition, Kurdish National Council (ENKS/KNC), told Rudaw English earlier on Monday on the condition of anonymity that Darbani would also meet with them, adding that he seeks the unity of Syrian Kurds.
Darbandi is the head of the Rojava dossier at Barzani’s office.
A coalition of rebel groups, spearheaded by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), launched an offensive late November, toppling Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Late last month, Abdi met with a delegation from the ENKS, in the presence of the US-led global coalition, to discuss Kurdish unity going forward.
After the collapse of the Syrian regime, the Kurdish National Unity Parties (PYNK) expressed readiness to return to talks with the ENKS.
The PYNK is a coalition of 24 parties that have close ties with Rojava’s ruling Democratic Union Party (PYD) and have representatives in the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES).
Previously, both sides had expressed willingness to hold dialogue amid calls for a unified Kurdish front and efforts to resume talks between feuding Kurdish parties in Rojava.
PYD and ENKS signed a historical agreement in Kurdistan Region’s Duhok province in 2015 to end tensions and share power in Rojava but the deal was never implemented. Each side blames one another for the collapse of the agreement.
Updated at 6:58 with SDF statement
