News

The former President of South Africa Frederick de Klerk, the archbishop of his country Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela Foundation, the former Irish Prime Ministers John Hume, Mary Robinson and Albert Reynolds and other 16 international leaders specialized in peace processes and conflict resolutions appealed to ETA today for a permanent, fully verified ceasefire.

In addition, they also appealed to the Spanish government to permit new political and democratic efforts to advance, differences to be resolved and lasting peace attained.

In a statement presented in the European Parliament by the South African mediator Brian Currin, the International leaders welcome and commend the proposed steps and new public commitment of the Basque Pro-independence (Abertzale Left) to "exclusively political and democratic" means and a "total absence of violence" to attain its political goals.

In their opinion, "fully carried out, this commitment can be a major step in ending the last remaining conflict in Europe".

Appeal to ETA

"We, the undersigned, welcome and commend the proposed steps and new public commitment of the Basque Pro-independence (Abertzale Left) to "exclusively political and democratic" means and a "total absence of violence" to attain its political goals.

Fully carried out, this commitment can be a major step in ending the last remaining conflict in Europe.

We note the expectation that the coming months may present a situation where the commitment to peaceful, democratic and no-violent means becomes an irreversible reality. To that end, we appeal to ETA to support this commitment by declaring a permanent, fully verified ceasefire.

Such a declaration appropriately responded to by [Spanish] Government would permit new political and democratic efforts to advance, differences to be resolved and lasting peace attained".