The European Union Turkey Civic Commission issued a statement to welcome the "message from Kurdish Communities Union (KCK) Executive Council President Murat Karayilan that the PKK withdraws its forces gradually from Turkey starting 8 May, 2013".

The withdrawal, said the Commission, "is a result of the ongoing peace talks between the PKK’s leader Mr. Abdullah Öcalan and the Turkish government and emerged following letter exchanges between the mountain and the leader".
The withdrawal is the first phase in a process that hopefully leads to lasting peace. In his message Karayilan called on all good forces - in all parts of Kurdistan, in North Kurdistan, and in Europe to support the process among others by organising conferences in order to bring unity, freedom, solidarity and democracy and to enhance the further peace process. The statement shows that the Kurdish movement wants a political solution and that Mr. Öcalan is a key figure in the process and should therefore be allowed to play his role more freely in the process, among others by enabling him to communicate directly with his partners. This however requires a radical change in his prison conditions.

"It is our hope - said the movement - that the Turkish government will control its forces so that there will be no military attacks during the withdrawal - or later. The withdrawal should not be regarded by Turkey as the solution to the conflict – this first step by the PKK needs to be followed by concrete steps by the AKP government like the writing of a new constitution that is a democratic state worthy".    

However, the statement remarked that "dark political forces swipe Europe shadowing the ongoing peace process".

The statement reminded of the January 2013 murders: Sakine Cansiz (a co-founder of the PKK), Fidan Dogan (Kurdish politician) and Leyla Söylemez (Kurdish activist) were brutally assassinated in Paris. "Who are behind the killings? - the statement asks and continues - This question has not being answered but there are reasons to believe that this wrongdoing is politically anchored and that deep state forces stand behind".

The EUTCC ends by expressing "strong supports the PKK’s withdrawal of forces from Turkey, the points to be followed in order to avoid the interruption of the process, as well as the organising of three conferences in all parts of Kurdistan, in North Kurdistan and in Europe". At the same time, the EUTCC calls "on Turkey to follow up on each step delineated by the PKK. The EUTCC also call for the immediate release of Adem Uzun and Yilmaz Orkan. Finally, the EUTCC urge the French government and the EU to do their outmost in the search for an answer to the Paris-killings".