2007/I/11
FRIENDSHIP GROUP TOWARDS THE PEACE PROCESS IN THE BASQUE COUNTRY.

Open Letter to the European Union:

As a Friendship group in support for a Peace process in the Basque Country, we would like to express our opinion on the situation of the peace process after the Bomb attack in Madrid airport last December 30th.

*FIRST and regarding the bombing itself we would like to strongly condem this brutal attack against peace and the Basque and Spanish societies, and also expres our most sincere simpathy and sadness to the families of the two men killed in the attack.
*SECOND, We call ETA to immediately stop with all kind of violent activities and go back to a cease of fire situation. The use of violence is incompatible with any peace process.
*THIRD, In the same sense we also want to remember that This Friendship:
- welcomed very warmly the decision of ETA to declare a permanent cease fire from 24th of March 2006.
- welcome very warmly the declaration of Mr Zapatero on the 29th of June 2006 in which he announced the opening of official talks with ETA, and its compromise to respect the decision that the Basques will adopt throw legal and democratic ways.
- the European Parliament hold on the Basque Peace Process last 25th of October, in which the European Parliament adopted a resolution expressing its support for the peace process and demanded to the European Commission, the European Council and the Member States to act consequently.
*FOURTH, This Friendship was created one year ago with the "intention of supporting and taking an active part in the process of resolution of the conflict affecting the Basque Country. It is our hope that the conclusion of this conflict will come about on the basis of a multilateral political agreement which makes possible the scenario of peace and democracy that we all wish for.
We share the idea that the only solution that is valid for everyone is one that is drawn up by everyone and based on dialogue and agreement.
We share the idea that the solution entails recognition of all the individual and collective rights of everyone who lives anywhere in the country, independently of whether they reside under the Spanish or French administrations.
We believe that the only valid political solution will be one that develops out of the strengthening of democracy and justice so as to permit recognition of the Basque Country as a political subject and acceptance of the right of all the citizens of the Basque Country to decide on their future.
We also believe that this agreement must come about in a peaceful context in which all civil and political rights are respected, and should therefore be honoured by the states of the European Union."
*FIFTH, We believe that the necessity for a peace process that will overcome the political conflict in the Basque Country is today as necessary as before.
*SIXTH, we also call all the parts involved in the conflict to take up again dialogue and to create democratic conditions that will guarantee all Human, civil and political rights for everyone and that will make possible the development of this process in order to reach an agreement. We would like to ask all parties involved in the conflict to recover the positive attitude and spirit that existed amongst all parties at the beginning of the process.
*SEVENTH, We as a friendship group that is working "towards a peace process in the Basque Country" would like to express our willingness to continue working in favour of the resolution of the Basque conflict. In this sense we would like to announce that in our last meeting on Tuesday 9th January, we decided the work agenda for the year 2007, which includes:
1. Monthly meetings with social and political actors from the Basque Country.
2. Meetings with:
- Basque Political Prisoners Collective (EPPK).
- AHOTSAK (Women collective for the peace process).
- Sociologic analysts (Aztiker -pools makers-).
- Trade Unions.
And also with representatives of the European political parties and Institutions.
3. Visits to the Basque Country.
4. Exhibition in the Parliament.