World Bulletin / News Desk

Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç has said he expects the militant arm of the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) to declare a cease-fire with Turkish security forces before March 21, the day of Nevruz.

Commenting on the peace process to end the deadly conflict in country's Southeast, Arınç spoke to a Turkish TV channel on Thursday, saying the PKK's jailed leader could send a letter to the PKK's armed wing in Northern Iraq to start the cease-fire before Nevruz.

Arınç added that he is personally not expecting the PKK to lay down arms immediately and that the first step would probably be the PKK announcing that the armed conflict has to end in order to solve the Kurdish issue.

Nevruz, a day heralding the arrival of spring commonly observed by Kurds in Turkey, has been celebrated past years with violent illegal demonstrations across Turkey by PKK sympathizers. However, this year celebrations are expected to be held in peaceful gatherings to welcome the peace process between the Turkish government and the PKK.

Earlier this month, Independent Mardin deputy Ahmet Türk, who is also the co-chairman of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Congress (DTK), has said he expects commanders of the PKK to declare a cease-fire against Turkish security forces before the day of Nevruz.

The Kurdish lawmaker traveled to Northern Iraq with a delegation last month to take a letter prepared by Öcalan to PKK commanders in the Kandil Mountains. Öcalan reportedly wrote down three letters, detailing his “roadmap” for a solution to be delivered to the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), PKK commanders in Kandil and senior PKK leaders in Europe.

Turkish state authorities have been holding peace talks with Öcalan since last October.