The way the Turkish authorities and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) are handling the recent release of the eight public servants and the ongoing Kurdish spring festivities shows that both sides have learned from past mistakes and are taking special care not to derail the current peace process.

There is a marked difference in the way both sides approach present issues as compared to their actions in the past.

The PKK released the eight public servants, including a trainee district governor, a police officer and six soldiers on March 13 in the northern Iraqi mountains of Kandil with minimal fanfare, handing them over to representatives of Turkish human rights groups and two parliamentarians from Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP). The released Turks were promptly brought to Turkey and treated with care. They have since been united with their families and are recovering in their homes.

Interior Minister Muammer Guler voiced deep pleasure at the safe release of the prisoners. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan personally called all the kidnapped personnel and wished them well. Later it was announced that three of the soldiers, who were serving their compulsory military service, would be discharged and that the trainee district governor would attend new courses while the other soldiers and policeman would be recommissioned.