Kurdistan Communities Union

A senior leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers? Party (PKK) has said the group aims to solve the Kurdish issue politically rather than militarily, and is waiting for ?solid steps? from the government in order to end the armed struggle.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu finally appeared before the media on March 24, the fifth day of tension between his government and President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an over the latter?s direct criticism of the way the government is handling the Kurdish peace process. 

What is the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government doing? 

Here is what it is doing:

Ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Parti) circles were trying the extinguish the fire, or pretending that there was no fire at all, regarding the exchange of words between President Tayyip Erdo?an and Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Ar?nç over the Kurdish issue, when the AK Parti?s intrepid Ankara Mayor Melih Gökçek started to machine gun Ar?nç with tweets on March 23.

The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) has categorically denied claims it cooperated with an organization affiliated with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) during the relocation of the historic Süleyman ?ah Tomb inside Syria in late February, vowing it will never take the terrorist organization as its interlocutor.

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.

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.