ETA CEASEFIRE STATEMENT | EU AND GOVERNMENTS SHOULD RESPOND POSITIVELY

Thousands march in support of Basque prisoners in a protest called by prsioners’ support group Etxerat on January 8th in Bilbao

Potential for peace requires political will

GERRY ADAMS has said the statement by ETA declaring a permanent and general ceasefire which will be verifiable by the international community “has the potential to propel the efforts for peace in that region significantly forward”.
“But,” the Sinn Féin leader cautioned, “it will require political will by all of the main political players, in particular the Spanish Government, if the opportunity that now exists is to be grasped.”
He said that, along with others in the international community, Sinn Féin has been involved in ongoing conversations with Basque representatives.
“Many in the Basque country have taken a close interest in the peace process in Ireland. They hope to learn from the Irish experience in an effort to advance their own peace process.”
Sinn Féin MEP Bairbre de Brún, who recently returned from the Basque Country with Sinn Féin MLA Alex Maskey, said:
“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.”
The Belfast Basque Solidarity Committee’s Kevin Morrison said:
“The Spanish Government must now grasp this historic opportunity, end attacks against Basque civic society and actively engage in dialogue in order to bring about a just and lasting solution to the conflict in the Basque Country.”