U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed Thursday’s call by Abdullah Ocalan for a ceasefire by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). “The Secretary-General welcomes the call by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) for a cease-fire and withdrawal of its forces from Turkish territory,â€‌ Ban’s office said in a statement issued Friday afternoon. “This is a positive step towards putting an end to the deadly conflict that has brought much suffering and grief to the people of Turkey,â€‌ the statement added.