Turkish government could soon start negotiations with the PKK

The HDP suggests a much-awaited negotiations phase with the government over the Kurdish issue could start within a fortnig Turkey's government could shift into a negotiations phase "within two weeks" in talks with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in pursuit of a political settlement to the Kurdish issue, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Figen Yüksekda? said Feb. 11.

"The developments regarding the solution process are not negative. There would be no joint statement if we were not able to shift to the negotiations phase. We are already ready for that. The government could not complete its preparations. We expect to start negotiations within two weeks," she told reporters in parliament. "Some more steps are needed in addition to the current legal framework. One of them is the release of ill prisoners. [Jailed PKK leader Abdullah] Öcalan has been trying to put the solution on track before the elections. I hope the government will act accordingly and overcome the problems."

The HDP has been aiding the talks between government officials, Öcalan and the PKK headquarters in the Kandil Mountains of Iraq since late 2012.

As Yüksekda? was talking to reporters in parliament, another HDP delegation was in talks with Deputy Prime Minister Yalç?n Akdo?an in the PM's office. Such talks are typically conducted by HDP MPs Pervin Buldan, S?rr? Süreyya Önder and ?dris Baluken, all of whom have frequently visited Öcalan on his ?mral? island prison as part of the dialogue process.

The visit with Akdo?an was the second tête-à-tête between the government and the HDP in 24 hours, according to sources close to the developments who asked not to be named.

The HDP lawmakers met with Akdo?an on the evening of Feb....