Joint Statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and Commissioner Štefan Füle on Abdullah Öcalan's call on the PKK to lay down arms and withdraw beyond Turkey's borders
Brussels, (21 March) Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle made today the following statement: "We welcome today's call on the PKK to lay down arms and withdraw beyond Turkey's borders and the positive reactions to that call. This is a further important step forward in the on-going process aimed at ending a conflict which has claimed far too many victims. We look forward to concrete follow-up and implementation.The EU has repeatedly encouraged all parties to work unremittingly to bring peace and prosperity for all citizens of Turkey. The EU gives its full support to this process. It stands ready to help, including through the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance."