Nov 25, 2013

The Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), has accused Turkey and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) of blocking aid, trade and closing of PYD-controlled border crossings. Moreover, Turkey is building a 2-meter (6.5-feet) high wall to prevent smuggling and the bypassing of checkpoints by Syrian Kurds. Turkey is opposed to the PYD controlling Kurdish areas and worried about their links to PKK rebels, while KDP leader and Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Massoud Barzani has been critical of the PYD and accused it of working with the Syrian government.

On Oct. 23, Muslim was barred from entering Iraqi Kurdistan at the Semalka border crossing, with the KDP accusing the PYD of capturing Kurdish areas with the help of the Syrian government and excluding other Kurdish parties from power. After the incident, the border crossing was closed by both sides.



“The PYD is fighting for the interests of the regime and working closely with it. The PYD is not respecting the will of the Kurdish people,” said the KRG statement as reported by the World Bulletin.



Abdulsalam Ahmed, the co-chair of PYD People’s Council of West Kurdistan, in an interview with Rihab News said that they hope the opening of the Yaroubiya border crossing can alleviate the suffering of the Kurds in Syria, who are preparing for winter and need aid, electricity generators and food supplies. But he said they are still waiting for the approval from Baghdad despite negotiations with them.



Kurdish news website Welati reported that the Iraqi government has two conditions for the PYD: for the Syrian flag to be hosted at the Syrian border and the border to be administered by the regime. But a PYD source indicated that they will not accept the Syrian regime or the Syrian opposition coalition to administer the border. They are only willing to administer the crossing together with local Arabs and Kurds.



Abdulsalam Ahmed told Al-Monitor, "The border is practically closed by the KRG because of preventing the passing of humanitarian aid and border trade. There are attempts to open other parts of the border crossings with Iraq and Turkey. There is no news yet, but it will be announced once there is an agreement.”