Hopeful developments in Basque Country

Alex Maskey in the Basque Country

While most Sinn Féin speakers had to battle against the unpredictable April weather to give their Easter speeches last week, Alex Maskey's Easter Sunday had a distinctly warmer, international flavour to it. Maskey was in the Basque Country, attending a day-long conference on conflict resolution and the need for multi-party talks.

The conference was organised by the National Debate Forum, an initiative aimed at bringing together a nationalist alliance in the Basque Country. It was attended by the main Basque political parties, elected representatives, peace groups and the churches (who have sponsored round table discussions of all parties in the Basque Country) and Basque trade unions.

Speaking to An Phoblacht after his trip, Maskey said that the conference augured well for the Basque process.

"Basically, the conference was set up to deliver a report from the National Debate Forum, set up last November. The outcome of that report was that there was agreement that there should be all-party talks and a nation building programme," he said.

"The crucial element, I think, is that the debate and the day itself was participated in by everyone, and it went very well. I outlined Sinn Féin's experience of conflict resolution and the need for a peace process to be established. We support these efforts that are taking place in the Basque Country to establish such a process, and believe that such moves should be responded to positively and supported by the international community."