European Convention on Human Rights

President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has said he did not approve of a meeting and joint press conference between the government and the Peoples? Democratic Party (HDP) at Istanbul?s Dolmabahçe Palace on Feb. 28, which was presented as a turning point in the Kurdish peace process.

Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu urged people to bury guns in the ground instead of youths, referring to the decades-old conflict between the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and Turkey, at a spring festival organized by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Istanbul on March 21.

The number of outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants who laid down arms and surrendered to security forces has reached 988 since the beginning of 2013, when the Kurdish peace process began, according to data collected by the Interior Ministry.

The leader of Turkey's Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) has accused the government of treason as he was re-elected to the party's top post.

"The ruling AKP (Justice and Development Party) has openly betrayed the Turkish history, Turkish nation and the state of the Republic of Turkey," Devlet Bahçeli told during the MHP's 11th Congress in Ankara on March 21.

President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has avoided thorny issues related to Turkey's Kurdish peace bid during his speech in a western city, confined himself to congratulating Nevruz with broad remarks.

A senior government official has criticized President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an over his latest intervention into the government-led Kurdish peace process, describing the president?s remarks as emotional and personal. 

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.