Statement of the Self-determination Gernika Network 26th February

We, elected representatives and parliamentarians, members of the Gernika Network, warmly welcome the outcome of the debate in the Abertzale Left.

The final general resolution, “Stand up! Basque Country”, opens a new political phase in the Basque political scenario. This resolution calls for the building of a democratic process to solve the ongoing conflict and to respect the right of Basque citizens to freedom of speech and self-determination. We applaud all efforts to work towards a democratic process based on such aspirations.

We encourage all parties to involve themselves in a democratic process which will facilitate all political projects, including the project for an independent Basque Country. Respect for the democratically expressed will and self-determination of Basque citizens will be key to a successful democratic process.

The commitment of the Abertzale Left to a process governed by the Mitchell principles and to the use of exclusively peaceful and democratic means is a huge step towards a peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict. We call on all political and social actors in the Basque Country to benefit from the conditions created and to act with responsibility in order to achieve a stable and lasting peace.

We urge the Spanish state not to miss this opportunity for a peaceful resolution of the conflict and to stop all security measures against Basque people. Civil and political rights should be re-established and Arnaldo Otegi (and the other imprisoned members of the Abertzale Left) must be released immediately in order to lead and be part of the multilateral party talks aimed at resolving the conflict.

We renew our commitment to a democratic resolution of the conflict in the Basque Country. We undertake to keep the institutions we are part of informed about relevant developments on the Basque political scene. Consequently we will promote initiatives at institutional, legislative and public level in order to support the political efforts aimed at the recognition of the democratic right to self-determination of the Basque Country and at solving the ongoing conflict.

The international community has to support a democratic process for the Basque Country. A clear opportunity now exists for the achievement of a peaceful and democratic outcome, and it is our task to promote the necessary steps to bring this about.

Finally, we call on other MPs and elected representatives all over Europe and America to join the Gernika Network and to involved themselves in working to promote the respect of the Basque People’s right to self-determination and in the peaceful resolution of the conflict