Contacts in peace process intensify ahead of crucial visit to Öcalan

Discussions between parties involved in Turkey?s Kurdish peace process accelerated in the run-up to Nevruz, March 21, which the government has highlighted as a potential milestone for the bid ahead of June 7 parliamentary elections.

Peoples? Democratic Party?s (HDP) Deputy Parliamentary Group Chair ?dris Baluken and Ceylan Ba?r?yan?k, a women?s rights activist and writer, departed on March 13 for the Kandil Mountains in northern Iraq to hold talks with executives of the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), a supra organization that includes the outlawed Kurdistan Workers? Party (PKK).

The wording of a message to be sent by the jailed leader of the PKK, Abdullah Öcalan, to be read out during March 21 festivities Diyarbak?r, the southeastern Anatolian province which is of a crucial symbolic importance for Turkey?s Kurdish people, is vital for both the government and PKK militants.

This weekend, probably on March 14, a delegation from the Kurdish political movement that will include HDP executives will visit Öcalan at the ?mral? Island Prison in the Marmara Sea where he is serving a life sentence.

With only days to go to the annual festival celebrated on March 21 to mark the beginning of spring, particularly in the country?s predominantly Kurdish Southeast Anatolia region, potential problems have been relegated to the back-burner, at least temporarily.

Controversy erupted following a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister Yalç?n Akdo?an and a parliamentary delegation from the HDP, prompting the former to call reported remarks by the latter on the formation of a monitoring body alongside the peace process as ?a complete lie.?

The remarks were reportedly delivered by HDP Deputy Parliamentary Group Chair Pervin Buldan...