Turkey hopes for PKK cease-fire until March 21

Ankara harbors hopes of a call by the outlawed PKK’s jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan for a cease-fire before Nevruz, the spring holiday on March 21.

“If the process continues on a positive course like it did initially, before March 21, a declaration, communication or – like how they [PKK members] say – an instruction may come from Ocalan,” Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said on Thursday.

“I assume that this process cannot be related to an immediate disarmament, but they should certainly make a decision about a cease-fire. Afterwards, I hope there will be an announcement or a proclamation which says that ‘weapons should be silenced from now on,” he added.

March 21 is Nevruz, a regional spring festival that is of crucial importance for Kurdish people.