White House hails ‘efforts to seek a peaceful resolution’

ISTANBUL/BRUSSELS

The White House has hailed in a statement April 25 the ongoing peace process in Turkey.

The White House has hailed the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party's (PKK) announcement of the beginning date for the militants' withdrawal from Turkish soil in a statement to BBC Turkish April 25.

"As U.S. President Barack Obama has already said, we applaud the efforts to seek a peaceful resolution to a struggle that has caused so much pain and sorrow for 30 years," the statement read.

Senior leaders of the PKK announced that the militants will begin withdrawing from Turkish soil on May 8. The withdrawal is seen as one of the critical stages that will determine the success of the peace process.

EU welcomes decision

The European Union also welcomed the PKK's statement on the withdrawal of its militants. "This decision is a new step for ending terrorism and bringing peace for all Turkish citizens," European Commissioner Stefan Füle's spokesman, Peter Stano was quoted by Anatolia news agency.