Montevideo declaration

Uruguay Encounter for Peace in the Basque Country The participants in the Uruguay Encounter for Peace in the Basque Country and the individuals and organizations who sign this pronouncement coincide in pointing out as historical the political movement that the Basque Country lives. The Declaration of Brussels (March 2010) signed by various Nobel Peace Prize laureates, the Gernika Agreement (September 2010), the debate in the Abertzale Left and their unilateral commitment to exclusively political and democratic ways, in addition to ETA's decision to put a definitive end to their armed activity, set up a panorama that has opened a new political time in the Basque Country and also in the whole of the Spanish and French states.

In our understanding, the celebration on October 17th, 2011, of the International Peace Conference of Donostia - San Sebastian and the Continental Encounter for Peace in the Basque Country which took place on October 17th , 2013 in Mexico have been fundamental in the development of the aforementioned events. The celebration of those events, both supported by figures of an international stature, were in themselves of an enormous value in the context of the search for solutions that the Basque Country needs. From Uruguay we have taken the baton and calls made in these conferences and we wish to continue gathering support to be able to reach a just and lasting peace in the Basque Country.

We consider that the five point resolution reached in the Conference of Donostia – San Sebastian that for having taken place at the Aiete Palace of this city is known as the AIETE DECLARATION represents an adequate roadmap, of great validity and relevance in the current political context, that in addition becomes a referential initiative for its contents, implications and the steps that it asks to be taken from then on.

On October 20th, 2011, ETA announced the definitive cessation of their armed activity and asked for dialogue with the governments of Spain and France to deal exclusively with “the consequences of the conflict” a term which covers the questions relative to the prisoners, victims and disarming, in such a form that the political agenda is completely set in the area of the representatives of Basque society.

We consider it convenient to point out the validity of the contents of the Donostia – San Sebastian Conference and urge all of those implicated – ETA, governments, institutions, political parties and civil society – to promote an exercise of dialogue and reconciliation that establishes solid bases for coexistence. We encourage them to deal with measures referring to the situation and the release of prisoners. We salute the work done by the International Contact Group and the International Verification Commission and especially the announcement on February 21st, 2014, making public that ETA has already begun “the unilateral process of sealing and putting beyond operative use their weapons, munitions and explosives”. We join the calls from the international community asking for the implication of the Spanish and French governments in the process of disarming, in a way that facilitates an adequate framework so that it can be concluded in a way that is agreed upon, verified, orderly and controlled. In relation to these subjects we consider very positive the recommendations published in May of 2013 in Donostia – San Sebastian by the “Social Forum to promote the peace process in the Basque Country” and we encourage their swift implementation.

We find ourselves before a new political time which demands acting without delay. Opening the path for the route and the spirit of peace, beyond the logic of force and confrontation, seems to us to require a constructive effort, for which excuses or obstacles that can be claimed as being insurmountable cannot be alleged. The consolidation of the new scenario is everyone's task and it is our common interest to promote and obtain the necessary actions for it. For all the above, we urge all the parts to implicate themselves in the building of a just and lasting peace in the Basque Country and we recommend for it the application of the roadmap that the Declaration of the International Peace Conference of Donostia – San Sebastian of October 17th, 2011, represents.

Montevideo, June 5th, 2014