Syria Warns Against Kurdish Entity in Iraq

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http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/F4912158-EB27-4162-91C1-19C4A171AC5C.htm

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"Any division of Iraq will not affect Iraq or Turkey alone as some do believe. This would have an impact on all (of Iraq's) neighbours," said Al-Asad, who starts a state visit to Turkey on Tuesday, the first there by a Syrian head of state.

Analysts say Turkey and Syria share the concern that the creation of a Kurdish state in northern Iraq could ignite secessionist aspirations among their Kurdish minorities.

Syria has traditionally sought to blend its minorities, both ethnic and religious, under a national unity umbrella. The official position of Syrian Kurdish groupings is not to pursue sectarian goals, but to safeguard their cultural identity.

"If Iraq is not united, the occupation will not end and without Iraq's unity, there will not be stability for Iraq or our countries," Al-Asad said.