Adress by the comrade ALEX MASKEY

On behalf of Sinn Fein I thank Left Abertzale for giving me this opportunity to address this

conference and support this new initiative in your developing peace process. As stated in the

San Sebastian Declaration – October 2011- there is a unique opportunity for political

progress. It is of course very important that all sides to the conflict take the opportunity

created, endorsed by the International community and take all the necessary steps to secure

an eventual lasting peace agreement.

Again, speaking from our own experience in the Irish peace process all sides had to make

their own contributions so that we created a dialogue between ourselves before reaching a

final agreement.

Each side had to show courage and take initiatives, but others must also respond positively

to those initiatives. Each must build confidence with the others and in doing so we can

resolve issues which are obstacles to progress.

Today there is a major focus on the issue of victims. As we in Ireland know only too well

there have been many who have suffered through our conflict. Victims have been created by

all sides and the all suffer the same grief if they have lost a loved one.

Even now many of the victims of the Irish conflict continue to suffer the consequences.

Many lost a loved one, a colleague (comrade), relative, many were injured themselves or

imprisoned. While some wish to fight political battles over the issue of victims – those

victims continue to endure their suffering. The peace process ensures there will be no more

victims and gives hope to those who suffer in the future.

My party Sinn Fein again commends those involved in this particular initiative and calls on

the Spanish Government to respond in a positive manner to this development.

Obviously to resolve any conflict there must be a dialogue and that dialogue must seek to

remove the symptoms and causes of the conflict.

We must be absolutely sensitive to the suffering of victims on all sides and on an equal basis.

We also argue from our experience that the friends and love ones of victims do want to see

an end to all suffering and welcome progress toward a lasting peace.

Today initiative gives a new opportunity to further develop the peace process here in the

Basque Country. Sinn Fein calls for further developments in relation to the full legal

recognition of political rights. In particular we call for the un-banning of political parties and

the release of people including Arnaldo Otegi. We call for the release of those prisoners who

are ill or who have served very long period in prison. We ask that prisoners are moved to

prisons closer to their homes. All of this can be done on a humanitarian basis even before

any agreement. However these actions will also themselves make further progress possible

and sooner.

We also urge an end to all judicial action which were a part of the conflict period but which

now have no part of this peace process and certainly not the future.

In welcoming this initiative today Sinn Fein commends the courage and leadership of those

involved, we urge the Spanish Government to respond positively as has been promised and

urges all sides to enter political dialogue designed to address all the consequences of this

conflict.