The Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, spoke by phone with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan about recent developments in the region, including the Gaza Strip. During the conversation, the Emir congratulated him on beginning to implement the agreement to disarm the PKK, the Kurdistan Workers' Party, which is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. Earlier, Bese Hozat, one of the PKK leaders, said that the party "wants to participate in Turkish politics." The leader also demanded the release of Kurdish leader in Turkey Abdullah Ocalan, who has been imprisoned since 1999.