On April 25, Moscow hosted another round of talks regarding a rapprochement between Syria and Turkey that included defense ministers and intelligence officials from the three countries as well as a fourth country, Iran. 

The main goal of the four-party meeting was to bring Syria and Turkey closer together after relations between the two countries were severed at the beginning of the Syrian Civil War in 2011, after which Turkey has tried to overthrow the Syrian regime and even occupied parts of Syrian territory including parts of the Syrian Kurdistan. The main obstacles hindering the conclusion of an agreement are Turkey’s security concerns, its occupation of Syrian territory, and the repatriation of the Syrian refugees.

Although Russia and Iran are not part of the Syrian-Turkish conflict, they have strategic interests in forging a deal. Both countries want to end the U.S. military presence in Syria and believe that a peace deal will make the U.S. position untenable. For its part, Syria wants Turkey and the United States to withdraw their forces and for Turkey to cease its support of extremist groups against Damascus. Meanwhile, Turkey's intentions and interests are clear: ending the presence of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Syrian-Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD).

Although Russia and Iran are making serious efforts to normalize Syrian-Turkish relations, their success depends largely on the seriousness of the two opposing sides and of the United States in its support for the Kurds in Western Kurdistan.

Turkey has said that it will not withdraw from Syria unless it guarantees the protection of its borders by disarming the SDF and eliminating Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) activities in Syria. As Syria's relations with the outside world improve, time may be in its favor, especially with presidential elections in Turkey only two weeks away. Turkey's diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement are interpreted as being related to the upcoming elections, especially the return of Syrian refugees, which is seen as a public demand in Turkey.

What remains unclear is the future of the Kurdish cantons in the region when and if Syria and Turkey reach an agreement. This depends on several factors: the seriousness of Russia in bringing the Kurdish side and the government together, the position and leverage of United States in Syria, and Turkey’s appetite for any credible role for the SDF/PYD in the future of Syria. 

Unity among the Kurdish parties, which former Kurdistan Region’s President Masoud Barzani has endeavored to facilitate in the past, is crucial in strengthening their negotiating position. This is a noble goal, but one that awaits deeds and not only words.

The importance of unity among Kurdish parties cannot be overstated. It is crucial for achieving the political and social goals of the Kurdish people, strengthening their negotiating position with external actors, promoting stability and security within Kurdish communities, and overcoming historical and cultural divides. Perisdent Masoud Barzani's efforts to facilitate unity among Kurdish parties are commendable and should be continued in order to achieve a brighter future for the Kurdish people. 

Hoshyar Siwaily is Director of the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s Foreign Relations Office