Internacional figures make call for peace in the Basque Country

Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams and other delegates to a conference on the decades-old conflict in the Basque Country on Monday urged the armed Basque group ETA to renounce violence.

A resolution read at the end of the three-hour conference called upon ETA "to make a public declaration of the definitive cessation of all armed action and to request talks with the governments of Spain and France to address exclusively the consequences of the conflict".

The delegates said ETA also should request dialogue with the governments of Spain and France on the consequences of the conflict.

In the Basque conflict, such wording often refers to issues such as what to do with the 800-odd ETA prisoners scattered around the country in Spanish jails, ETA wants them moved to the region to be closer to their families, and how to disarm ETA.

Such wording would seem to rule out talks on political concessions such as Basque independence.

The delegates said that if ETA does declare a definitive end to violence, they would urge Madrid and Paris to undertake such talks.

The statement, which was read out by former Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern, also said steps should be taken toward reconciliation and compensating victims of the Basque conflict.

The Spanish government and leading opposition conservative Popular Party did not attend the gathering in the Basque city of San Sebastian. They insist ETA must simply abandon arms and dissolve.

The last of Western Europe's main armed groups, ETA is increasingly coming under pressure from disenchanted ETA prisoners and political allies to go further than a "permanent" ceasefire declared in September 2010.

Final statement read at the end of the conference

1. We call upon ETA to make a public declaration of the definitive cessation of all armed action and to request talks with the governments of Spain and France to address exclusively the consequences of the conflict.

2. If such a declaration is made we urge the governments of Spain and France to welcome it and agree to talks exclusively to deal with the consequences of the conflict.

3. We urge that major steps be taken to promote reconciliation, recognize, compensate and assist all victims, recognize the harm that has been done and seek to heal personal and social wounds.

4. In our experience of resolving conflicts there are often other issues that, if addressed, can assist in the attainment of lasting peace. We suggest that non violent actors and political representatives meet and discuss political and other related issues, in consultation with the citizenry, that could contribute to a new era without conflict. In our experience third party observers or facilitators help such dialogue. Here, such dialogue could also be assisted by international facilitators, if that were desired by those involved.

5. We are willing to form a committee to follow up these recommendations.