PM Barzani: PKK threatening regional stability; domination of SDF must end

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Masrour Barzani, affirmed on Monday that the actions of the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK), particularly its attempts to exploit peaceful demonstrations regarding delays in salary payments, because of budget disputes between Baghdad and Erbil, which have been exacerbated by the economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, constitute a threat to regional stability.

On Monday, the KRG Prime Minister received a phone call from the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Levant Affairs and the Special Envoy for Syria, Joel Rayburn.

During their discussion, both Barzani and Rayburn shed light on the complex situation in Syria, while the two sides agreed on the importance of continuing peace talks among the Kurdish parties in a way that enhances variety and participation and guarantees political freedoms.

In addition, both sides emphasized that ISIS remains a common threat.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the attack that was launched by the PKK on Peshmerga forces in Amedi district Sunday night, as he strongly condemned it.

At least one Peshmerga was martyred as a result of the assault on a checkpoint in the Kurdistan Region’s Duhok province.

Read More: Peshmerga officer martyred as PKK launches new attack against Kurdistan Region forces

Barzani noted that three members of the Kurdish security forces and Peshmerga have been martyred by the PKK in recent months. He emphasized that the behavior of the PKK, including its attempts to exploit the peaceful demonstrations in the Kurdistan Region, threatens regional stability.

SDF Must Free Itself From PKK Domination

The Prime Minister also stressed the need for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to free themselves from domination by the PKK and, in particular, not to allow the PKK to exploit the aid which it receives.

The PKK was founded in 1978, toward the end of the Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union. It initially enjoyed support from both Moscow and Damascus. However, with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, and with it the end of communism, the PKK lost Moscow’s backing.

However, it continued to be based in Syria and was supported by the Baathist regime there. In the late 1990s, Turkey, with US support, threatened Syria, if it did not expel the head of the PKK, Abdullah Ocalan.

Syria did so, and in 1998, Ocalan ended up in Kenya, where the US took custody of him and handed him over to Ankara, where he has been imprisoned since then.

The SDF is America’s principle partner in the war against ISIS in Syria. It is led by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which form the core of the SDF’s fighting force. The YPG, in turn, is the military arm of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), which is close to the PKK.

Although the PKK was initially formed as a Marxist-Leninist organization, Ocalan’s ideology mellowed after the collapse of communism, when he embraced the thinking of an American, Murray Bookchin.

Like Ocalan, Bookchin began as a Marxist, but he later embraced what he called “communalism.” He passed away in 2006.

It is the PKK’s origins in Marxism-Leninism that explains the red star on its flag, as well as that of the YPG.

Editing by Laurie Mylroie