ETA ceasefire welcomed by Gerry Adams & De Brún MEP > Video of Adams’ response
GERRY ADAMS has welcomed today’s statement by ETA of “a permanent and general ceasefire which will be verifiable by the international community”. The Sinn Féin leader urged the Spanish Government “to grasp the opportunity for a lasting peace and a new beginning in the relationship between the Basque people and the Spanish state.”
Speaking in Dublin, Gerry Adams said there have been “seismic” moves in the process (see video here).
In a statement, Gerry Adams said:
In September last year, ETA expressed its desire to pursue Basque independence through peaceful and democratic means.
This was a significant statement.
It had the potential to bring about a permanent end to the long-running conflict in the Basque country.
Doubts were raised by some as to ETA’s commitment to this strategy and the opportunity for progress was not exploited fully.
Today’s statement by ETA follows on the public efforts and commitments of the Abertzale Left and recent comments by Arnaldo Otegi, the imprisoned leader of Batasuna.
In a recent interview with the US newspaper The Wall Street Journal, Mr Otegi said that Batasuna rejects violence as a means of attaining political objectives.
It is now vital that the Spanish Government respond positively and grasp the opportunity to advance a peace process presented by today’s statement and quickly establish inclusive political negotiations.
Sinn Féin MEP Bairbre de Brún has said that “it is imperative that the EU now act to support peace in the Basque Country”:
This declaration is a huge step forward. It is a very positive response to the requests that have been made by significant international figures such as Mary Robinson and Nelson Mandela.
The Spanish and French governments should now grasp the opportunity offered by this declaration and end all repressive measures
It is imperative that the EU now act to support peace in the Basque Country as called for in the European Parliament resolution in October 2006.
