The EUTCC (European Turkey Civic Commission) has released a statement noting "positively the encouraging developments between the Turkish state and the PKK leader Mr. Abdullah Öcalan".

According to the EUTCC "the renewal of talks between the parties and a genuine will from both sides to seek a peaceful solution to the problems can pave the road to peace and a democratic solution to the Kurdish problem in Turkey along the lines first adumbrated by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and the recent International Peace Initiative".

The statement underlines that "the renewal of these long-awaited talks will benefit all parties involved including Turkey and are to be encouraged. In light of these positive developments we urge the French government to immediately release Mr. Adem Uzun a leading Kurdish representative who was involved in the previous Oslo process. The further imprisonment of Mr. Uzun is meaningless in light of the positive developments currently taking place on Imrali".

The EUTCC adds to "praise the Turkish state and Mr. Abdullah Öcalan for taking courageous steps towards a negotiated peaceful settlement to further a democratic future for Turkey".

The statement is signed by Kariane Westrheim, Michael Gunter, Hans Branscheidt and Judge Essa Moosa.