Abdullah Öcalan

Abdullah Öcalan, the jailed leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers? Party (PKK), has called on the PKK to convene an extraordinary congress to "end the 40-year-long arms struggle" against Turkey. 

All eyes will be on Diyarbak?r on March 21, where a letter from the jailed leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers? Party (PKK), Abdullah Öcalan, will be read during Nevruz festivities, marking the arrival of spring.

Today, on the day of Nevruz, or Newroz as Kurds call it, the attention of millions in Turkey is focused on a message that will be conveyed to hundreds of thousands of people awaiting it in the predominantly Kurdish southeastern city of Diyarbak?r.

The message will come from Abdullah Öcalan, the leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers? Party (PKK), imprisoned since 1999.

The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) will hold its annual congress on March 21, on the same day as the Nevruz Festival, where a message from the jailed leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) Abdullah Öcalan is set to be read out in Diyarbak?r.

The government has decided to establish a monitoring committee of five to six persons to oversee the implementation of the Kurdish peace process, a senior government official has said, noting that the final decision on its composition and mandate will be given next week by the prime minister.

President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an recently said, "What do you call the Kurdish issue; there is no Kurdish issue." Immediately after he said this, political analysts presented their assumptions with their all-knowing attitude: "Hmm? He is playing to the nationalist votes before the elections."

Is he playing or is he not playing? I don't know.

Democracy is a difficult game to play. It has its rules. Some play it well, some play it badly. But, coming up with a claim that "We have a Turkish-style democracy" is nothing but a confession that in Turkey there is a government system which is a hybrid in nature; elements of democratic governance mixed with a culture of power-worshipping and an oppressive government understanding.

A much-anticipated letter from jailed outlawed Kurdistan Workers? Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan that will be read out during Nevruz celebrations in Diyarbak?r will be ?historic,? according to Peoples? Democratic Party (HDP) Istanbul deputy S?rr? Süreyya Önder.

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.

Turkey?s Kurdish problem could take yet another step this weekend toward a political solution, according to Pervin Buldan, an MP for the Kurdish problem-focused Peoples? Democratic Party (HDP) and an active member mediating the talks between the government and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers? Party (PKK) for the last three years.