Murat Karayilan announces PKK withdrawal from Turkey

The military leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has battled Turkey for three decades, announced on the 25 April 2013 that fighters will pull out of the country from 8 May 2013 in the latest stage of a peace process transforming the politics of the region.

The declaration by Murat Karayilan, Kurdish Communities Union (KCK) Executive Council President, followed months of talks between Turkey’s government and Abdullah Ocalan, the PKK’s imprisoned leader, and a ceasefire announced in March 2013.

On the 8 May 2013, it was reported that Kurdish PKK was set to start its gradual withdrawal of some 2,000 fighters from the Kurdish region of Turkey into northern Iraq.

However, in September 2013, the BBC reported the PKK as saying that it had halted its withdrawal from Turkey. The PKK accused the Turkish government of failing to move towards 'democratisation and the resolution of the Kurdish problem'.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Turkey opens disarmament talks with PKK http://www.europeansources.info/record/turkey-opens-disarmament-talks-with-pkk/

ESO: Background information: 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 http://www.europeansources.info/record/memo-joint-statement-by-eu-high-representative-catherine-ashton-and-commissioner-stefan-fule-on-abdullah-ocalans-call-on-the-pkk-to-lay-down-arms-and-withdraw-beyond-turkeys-borders-2/

Deutsche Welle, 25.04.13: Kurdish PKK rebels announce withdrawal date from Turkey http://www.dw.de/kurdish-pkk-rebels-announce-withdrawal-date-from-turkey/a-16773040

Firatnews.com, 25.04.13: KCK: Withdrawal to begin on 8 May http://en.firatnews.com/news/news/kck-withdrawal-to-begin-on-8-may-update.htm

France24, 26.04.13: Kurdish rebels announce withdrawal from Turkey http://www.france24.com/en/20130426-kurdish-rebels-pkk-begin-withdrawal-turkey-may-8

Deutsche Welle, 08.05.13: Kurdish PKK begins withdrawal from Turkey in peace bid http://dw.de/p/18TsH

BBC News, 08.05.13: Kurdish PKK rebels 'begin leaving Turkey' after truce http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22448118

BBC News, 09.09.13: Kurdish PKK rebels 'halt Turkey pull-out' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24013837

Deutsche Welle, 09.09.13: PKK halts withdrawal of Kurdish rebels from Turkey http://dw.de/p/19e8M

The Guardian, 03.09.13: Uneasy truce holds as Kurdish guerrilla forces withdraw from Turkey http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/03/kurdistan-turkey-erdogan-truce-peace-limbo

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