Two significant events have changed current political situation of the Basque Country in the last few days: first, the so-called "Lizarra Agreement" on the political conflict and its resolution signed on September 12th by 23 Basque political parties, trade unions and social groups in Lizarra (Estella), a village in Navarre. Second, the ETA's communiqué -dated on September 17th- in which they announced an indefinite complete cessation of armed actions.

These two events, resulting from a process started some months ago, have radically altered the Basque political scene.

POLITICAL SITUATION

First of all, we should bear in mind that the Partido Popular came to power on March 1996, after the PSOE had been in power for 14 years and had failed to resolve Spanish main problems, including the Basque conflict with its "anti-terrorist policies and pacts". Once in power, Aznar's Government, with Mayor Oreja as head of the Ministry of the Interior, decided to increase repression on the Basque movement for independence, and at the same time, to enhace the Spanish project in the Basque Country. This Government was unresponsive and unmoved, and Aznar even stated that "all the Herri Batasuna supporters will end in prison". The PP was determined to undermine the Basque nationalist left. First, Herri Batasuna's National Executive was sent to prison in December 1997, then EGIN newspaper was closed down in July 1998 and now Herri Batasuna is threatened with being declared illegal. In addition, the PP does not but constantly attack the Basque language and culture, and imposes a statutory framework first backed by the PNV and EA but now proved not to be enough for Basque aspirations. The PNV, EA and IU, HB and most Basque trade unions and social groups have often expressed their rejection to the Spanish project. For example, they reacted against EGIN's shutdown, they reached agreements in favour of the repatriation of the Basque prisoners and even Ardanza presented his own plan for peace-making, actually rejected by the PP and the PSOE. In this context, these parties were at a crossroads and had to choose between: one, the Spanish "shared mutual project" -which looks for a solution by exclusively military means and submission to the Spanish State- or two, finding new ways to get most Basque social and political groups together and fight for a negotiated and democratic resolution to the conflict.

Besides, the Basque nationalist left, Herri Batasuna, adopted a new strategy of contacts with different political parties, trade unions, social organisations and popular groups, to deal with two fundamental issues: on the one hand, how to resolve the political conflict between the Basque Country and the Spanish State in a democratic way, and on the other, how to make an accurate analysis of the situation in the Basque Country and the political framework arising from the Spanish Constitution and the Statutes of Autonomy, which according to most Basque organisations were drained. According to this strategy, the Basque nationalist left created the so-called "Forum of Ireland" to evaluate the aspects that favoured negotiation in Ireland and the peace agreements in Stormont, as well as to find the best way towards peace in the Basque Country. Anyway, HB never stopped talks with other political parties and unions to discuss the above mentioned issues. Finally, agreements were reached by HB, PNV and EA in the Parliament of Vitoria regarding the sports' law, Trebiño (together with IU), rejection to comply with the Spanish Constitution, or the plans to normalize Basque language.

Simultaneously, Herri Batasuna worked out the "National Agreement" containing all the fundamental claims to start talks and reach agreements with other political and social organisations: right to self-determination and land unity, new institutional structures -including all the Basque provinces- based on sovereignty; other issues regarding Basque people, culture, education and socio-economic model to favour the national and social construction of the Basque Country; and finally, the way to resolve the violent conflict through negotiation, which will bring about peace and democracy to the Basque Country. Basque people must have a say and the power to make decisions regarding their future. That is why the electoral group "Euskal Herritarrok" will take part in the autonomous election on October 25th. This group is made up by various groups and people of the Basque left and nationalism coming from different unions, political organisations and social groups. We have all come together to defend the so-called National Agreement.

In this briefing of recent events resulting in a new political situation, we should not forget the first trial against the GAL, for having kidnapped Segundo Marey. In the trial, facts were proved and the 12 defendants convicted: the former General Secretary of the PSOE in Bizkaia, Ricardo García Damborenea, was sentenced to 7 years' prison; the PSOE Minister of the Interior during the GAL period, José Barrionuevo, and his Secretary of State, Rafael Vera, to 10 years' prison. Still, the sentence did not regard the GAL as an "armed group", even if they had killed 27 people. Anyway, it was proved the PSOE and its Ministry of the Interior was involved in dirty war against the Basque supporters of independence. This will not be the last trial against the GAL, but after this sentence high state authorities have demanded that the the convicted should be acquitted of the crime. Thus, it would not be striking to see that the PP Government finally did so. This would be in accordance to the PP's criteria: once the charges of the past anti-terrorist period are clarified -or better said, forgotten-, they can carry out a new strategy against the Basque nationalist movement helped by PSOE's total subjection.

LIZARRA AGREEMENT

The so-called "Forum of Ireland" was first promoted by the former National Executive of Herri Batasuna (now in prison), which called on all the Basque parties, unions and social groups to analyse: first, the factors that favoured negotiation and peace agreements in Ireland and second, the way to carry out a similar process in the Basque Country. Only the PP, PSOE (political parties), the CCOO and UGT (trade unions) refused to take part in this forum. The other Basque political parties (HB, PNV, EA, IU and Batzarre), unions (ELA, LAB, EHNE, ESK-CUIS, STEE-EILAS), and various social groups -up to 23- started a process of talks.

Finally, on September 12th, they all reached an agreement: the so-called "Lizarra Agreement", since it was signed in the Navarrese village Lizarra-Estella. This Agreement has two parts: the first one analyses the aspects that favoured the peace process in Ireland, and the second sets out the following points:

• The conflict in the Basque Country is a political conflict between the Spanish and French States, and thus, its resolution must be political.

• The main issues to resolve are: land unity, subject of decision and political sovereignty.

• Talks should start immediately, without exclusions, including all the Basque people.

• The process must have two strands. In the preliminary stage, there should be multi-party talks with no preconditions. In the resolutive stage, the core of the conflict should be tackled and a solution found, with no expression of violence throughout.

• The resolutive negotiation, apart from implying no specific imposition, should respect diversity of Basque people and parity of esteem for all political options by furthering democracy. The key of the problem is to provide the Basques with a say and to make the States respect their decision.

The Agreement of Lizarra thus gathers most Basque people's view on the conflict between the Basque Country and the Spanish State, and defines the road towards a solution: negotiation and democracy for the Basque Country. Besides, the signatory parties commit themselves to open a political process to favour implementation of this Agreement.

Finally, this agreement counteracts Spanish State's aim to spread the view that the conflict stems from a confrontation between democrats and violents, and that a solution can be founded through Police operations and repression against the people who support independence, no matter whether human rights and fundamental liberties are violated or not. The Spanish parties have always attempted to isolate the Basque nationalist left by means of "anti-terrorist pacts" since 1988, and by promoting the phantasmagoric and unsuccessful "spirit of Ermua". However, this agreement means that Spanish politics is a failure and does not but extend and sharpen the conflict. As a matter of fact, it is the PSOE and PP who have been isolated because they refuse to change. These parties try to confuse the Spanish public by saying the Basques have created a "nationalist front", but in fact it is a "democratic front" to resolve Basque people's problems.

ETA'S INDEFINITE CEASE-FIRE

By means of a communiqué sent to different medias and published on September 17th, the armed organisation ETA announced an indefinite cease-fire from September 18th on. The communiqué contains an analysis of the situation and an eight point declaration.

The communiqué first confirms that after 20 years since transition, the Basques are entering a new political situation. The Basque nation has now a chace to take a definitive step towards freedom. The constitutional autonomous system brought division to the Basque Country and made it dependant on the Spanish State. However, thousands of Basque people have fought and suffered for a united, free and Basque nation and have made it possible to reach a new political situation today. ETA highlights some features of this new situation: one, thanks to the "Democratic Alternative", more social groups have joined the struggle for independence. More people now see it necessary to provide the Basque with a say and the right to express their view on fundamental matters such as selfdetermination and land unity; two, the dividing institutional structures imposed by the States have failed; three, the "pacts' politics" to undermine the movement for independence have also failed; four, EA, PNV, ELA and other nationalist groups now understand the Statute of Autonomy is no longer valid; five, most people now think peace should be achieved through talks and political solutions. Therefore, ETA states there are two political projects. One, a plan to build a stronger and fairer society, with its own personality, its socieconomic model and system of labour relations; and two, the plan promoted by Spain and France to assimilate, integrate and culturally impoverish the Basque Country. According to the ETA, even if the conflict is still the same, the co-relation of forces has changed and Basques have now a chance to take steps, towards freedom and towards the construction of a new political framework for the whole Basque Country. ETA finally assures that the goal is not "pacification" or "normalization" based on a false peace where nothing changes, but the aim is to achieve peace based on the rights of the Basque Country.

The communiqué contains a declaration of 8 points in which the ETA confirms the unparalleled opportunity to work together in the way towards independence. ETA calls on the other groups to overcome current institutional and statutory division; to work and reach agreements on Basques' fundamental needs; and to break ties with those who defend Spanish and French ruling aspirations. Due to the new situation in the Basque Country and the new political opportunities, ETA announced the complete indefinite cessation of their armed operations. Besides, it claims that it will developments in the future that will determin whether this cease-fire is definite or not.

Reactions to the ETA communiqué have been front news in the media coverage. The PNV commited itself to make real efforts to achieve peace; EA demanded that ETA and the State should respect the will of the Basque majority; Izquierda Unida stated that the PP or PSOE have no longer an excuse to stop negotiation; CDN regarded ETA's step as positive and said that the following step must be taken by Aznar; the ELA and LAB trade unions underlined ETA's goodwill to achieve peace and democracy and pointed out that the process of dialogue and negotiation cannot have any other limit than the Basque people's goodwill expressed peacefully and freely; the Basque bishops were hopeful and demanded responsability and flexibility. Their hope was shared by many other organisations, groups and personalities from the social, cultural, economic and intellectual world.

At the state level, the PSOE expressed its wish to achieve peace, although some leaders said the Spanish Constitution and Statutes of Autonomy will never be changed. Besides, Spanish President Aznar mentioned flexibility but their condition was that ETA's cease-fire should become firm. After the first meetings between the PP and PSOE, both parties shared the view that the only framework for peace was the Constitution and the Statute, and demanded that the ETA should completely stop their armed operations and surrender their arms.

At the international level, Sinn Féin welcomed the Lizarra Declaration and the ETA's initiative, and urged the Spanish State to enter negotiations without delaying or stopping the process. The French Government and the Vatican, for instance, found that the ETA cease-fire was a positive step; the White House added that if peace and negotiation have been possible in Ireland, it can be hoped in other places. The Noble Peace Prizes Adolfo Pérez Esquivel-mediator between the ETA and the PSOE when this party was in power-, and José Ramos Horta, welcomed this announcement and supported the peace process.

TOWARDS A NEW POLITICAL SCENERY

The new situation in the Basque Country responds to the fact that the PP has failed to solve problems in the Basque Country by sticking first, to repression and second to their Spanish political model.

The PP aimed at undermining the movement for independence by harrassing the Basque nationalist left. In addition to Police operations, they promoted international cooperation and pressure on Basque political prisoners; and they imprisoned Herri Batasuna's National Executive. Their aim was to leave this party without political course, to divide it, and to weaken the struggle for independence. The PP failed because a new National Executive was soon elected and the new members went on with the contacts and agreements with other political and social agencies. Furthermore, the PP shut EGIN down. Although it was a hard knock, it helped foster mutual work among Basque political, union and social forces; and a new journal project "Euskadi Información" was set in motion. Finally, they tried to get a pro-Spanish majority in the Basque Parliament by declaring HB illegal but this aim was neutralised when the electoral group "Euskal Herritarrok" was created to take part in the next election.

As we have mentioned before, the PP has always attempted to impose its political model on the Basque Country. the so-called "shared common project". In this way, they wanted to stop development of the Statute of Aautonomy and to guarantee Basques' submission to the Spanish State. However, most Basque political and social organisations have now confirmed that the constitutional and statutory framework is drained. In addition to the work by ELA and LAB (majority of Basque workers), the Parliament in Vitoria rejected to accept the Consitution with the votes of EA, HB and PNV. What's more, the BNG (second political group in Galizia), CIU (party in the Government in Catalunya) and the PNV joined to claim more powers and changes in Constitution, and understood the Lizarra Agreement was good news. Finally, the "Lizarra Agreement" and subsequent reactions showed that the majority of Basque people reject PP and PSOE's stagnation and anti-democratic attitude. They are in fact politically isolated, thus undermining the "spirit of Ermua", by which they wanted to enhance Spanish rule on the Basque Country.

Herri Batasuna is aware of the fact that present political situation is really important and that we are entering a second transition. Most political, union and social groups are now committed to build a new Basque Country and to achieve peace through negotiation. The ETA's cease-fire does not mean peace in itself, because State's violence still exists, about 600 Basque political prisoners are still dispersed in Spain, the Spanish army and police are still in our streets, and the Spanish and French States refused to recognize Basques' right to build their future in liberty. We are aware, thus, of the fact that the State led by the PP and PSOE refuses to deal with the situation democratically. They refuse to promote olitical discussion in the Basque society to find a negotiated and democratic resolution to the conflict. They refuse to accept that there will be no other limit than Basque People's own wish. Therefore, we know that the process will be long and difficult. The cease-fire will only depend on how Basque organisations work to reach agreements and promote the peace process, and on the Spanish State's response to Basque people.

Hence, time has come to achieve peace, to get the right to self-determination, to make the Basque people express themselves freely, to make their voice be respected, to be able to defend all political projects and to further democracy. What's more, time has come to go on working together to achieve peace, democracy and to advance construction of the Basque Country.

ETA has committed itself to find a solution through dialogue, negotiation and peace. They guarantee that they will respect and accept the opinion of the Basque majority. Therefore, pressure should be exercised on the Spanish Government, in order to achieve a just, balanced and lasting peace in the Basque Country and the Spanish State, within a completely democratic framework. The agreement in Ireland shows that it is possible to achieve peace when people's opinion is respected. International involvement is crucial in that sense.

HB International Relations Department
Tel. 34-94-4244573 / Fax, 34-94-424 45 78
E-mail: epaiketa@izartel.com
Euskal Herria, September 22th, 1998.

Annex:

• Lizarra Agreement signed by 23 organisations taking part in the Forum of Ireland

• 8 point Declaration contained in the ETA communique published on 17-9-98

LIZARRA DECLARATION

ASPECTS THAT FAVOURED THE PEACE AGREEMENT IN (NORTHERN) IRELAND

1. All the parties involved accepted that it was a political conflict and subsequently, that its resolution should be political.

2. The British Government and the IRA came to be aware of the fact that they could not win militarily and thus, they accepted that the conflict -if not resolved- could be endlessly extended.

3. Thanks to the reflection of all the parties involved in the conflict, the confrontation yielded to mutual work (first, among close but different groups, later among rivals and finally among enemies). In the participants' view, noone could never be excluded from these talks.

4. Among all the conclusions reached by the Irish, there is one which was long supported by the Republican movement and which must be particularly highlighted. A solution to the conflict had to understand and respect all the traditions in the Island. This view helped change the mind of those who fostered exclusive talks or isolationist policies.

5. Step by step, talks and détente resulting from these contacts became first news and violence and isolationist policies were relegated down on the public priority list. From both sides, there were gestures of relaxation of tension and nobody dared to ask unfair preconditions to start talks.

6. The recognition of the right to self-determination to all the citizens of Ireland brought depth to the content of democracy (creating new formulas of sovereignty) as well as the method (providing people with a say). These political aspects in the peace agreement implied a new approach to negotiation: the aim of the parties was no longer to win but to solve the conflict; all the traditions in the island were being taken into account and all the political goals had a position of equality; there was no other limit but the majority's democratic opinion.

7. Some international aspects played a major role in the agreement. First of all, the Government and President of the United States firmly believed that a democratic solution could be found and participated directly in the matter. Second, different institutions of the European Union welcomed this settlement (and promised financial aid). And third, political support and help was provided by the Government and President of South Africa throughout the process.

POTENTIAL IMPLEMENTATION IN THE BASQUE COUNTRY

Taking into account the aspects that favoured the Peace process and Agreement in Ireland, we understand that the conflict in the Basque Country can find channels o resolution, by following these guidelines and action:

IDENTIFICATION
The Basque problem is a historical political conflict in which the Spanish State and French State are involved. Its resolution must be necessarily political. There are different views concerning the reason why this conflict started and it is maintained, in respect with land unity, decision-making subject and political sovereignty, but as a matter of fact, these points become fundamental questions to be resolved.

METHOD
A political solution can only be found through an open process of dialogue and negotiation or inclusive talks, that is, talks that include all the parties involved and respect participation of Basque people as a whole

PROCESS
Preliminary Stage. The process of dialogue and negotiations should start with multi-party talks, with no precondition imposed on the parties involved. Resolutive Stage. This is the process of negotiation and resolution in the strict sense, which implies parties' goodwill and commitment to deal with the reasons of the conflict. This stage would take place after guns were silent and the conflict caused no violent expression.

CHARACTER OF NEGOTIATIONS
Negotiation must be global as far as it should tackle and answer all the questions of the conflict and all its consequences. There are not limited agendas. Negotiation should not be considered a process to achieve vested interests but to find a resolution for the conflict.

KEYS OF RESOLUTION
This aim to find a solution implies that a resolutive negotiation must decisively result in peace, with no imposition, respecting diversity in the Basque Country and parity of esteem for all political option, furthering democracy by providing the Basques with a voice and by making the States in question respect their decision. The Basque Country must have a say and power to make decisions

RESULTING SCENERY
The resolution agreement will not be closed or definite, but it will bring about open frameworks with new formulas to meet the needs of all the traditions and sovereign aspirations of the people in the Basque Country.

Basque Country, 12 September 1998
AB: Abertzaleene Batasuna, HB: Herri Batasuna, EAJ-PNV, EA: Eusko Alkartasuna, Izquierda Unida, Batzarre, Zutik, ELA, LAB, EHNE, ESK-CUIS, STEE-EILAS, Ezker Sindicala, HIRU, Gogoa, Amnistiaren Aldeko Batzordeak, Senideak, Bakea Orain, Elkarri, Egizan, Herria 2000 Eliza, Gernika Batzordea, Autodeterminazioaren Biltzarrak.

ETA'S COMMUNIQUE

1. Building the Basque Country requires everybody's work. However, it was the Basque nationalist left alone who resolutely undertook that job. It has been a long, complicated and winding road for us. In return, repression and all sort of attacks. Anyway, thanks to our endeavours, today, we can say there is an unprecedented opportunity to create new meeting places and settlements, so as to work together and share efforts and responsabilites in the way towards independence. ETA, on its part, wants to make it clear that it is determined to foster agreement and that it expects such great steps are also taken on the part of the other parties involved.

2. Therefore, ETA publicly calls on political parties, trade unions, cultural representatives, social groups and on all the Basque people in general to make this new political stage become that of sovereignty, to take on definitive commitments and specific steps.

3. Our main goal is related to the current institutional and state partition. We must start to look for solutions to overcome it; to that end, we must start taking steps now to create one sovereign institutional structure including Araba, Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa, Lapurdi, Nafarroa ad Zuberoa.

4. If all the political and social forces sharing this goal come together, in order to achieve the institutional structure we want, Euskadi Ta Askatasuna publicly commits itself to welcome, protect and promote every initiative to overcome current institutional and statute partition. But at the same time, we ask the others to take the same commitment, endeavour and work, even if they were uninterested or coward as regards this claim before.

5. The forces supporting democratic rights and construction of the Basque Country must promote dynamics and agreements around fundamental and basic claims.

6. The project supported by the Basque Country and by Spain or France are completely opposite. A long-standing conflict has clearly shown us that there is no room for half-way solutions. The point is whether to go on living as Basques or to be eliminated by Spain and France. Thus, we deem it essential to call on all those people who agree with the points above. We suggest they should get away from ties and agreements defended and promoted by the reppresive Spain and France. It is high time that we all openly and completely undertook the fight for freedom. It is high time that we all destroy the links and agreements with political forces which aim to destroy the Basque Country. Hence, it is high time that we all abandoned settlements promoted by political parties, institutional structures and repression to favour the construction of Spain and France and the destruction of the Basque Country.

7. Taking into account the situation of the Basque Country, as well as present opportunity and longing for freedom, Euskadi Ta Askatasuna announces an indefinite complete cessation of military operations. ETA's actions will be limited to providing ourselves with supplies, to maintain our structures and to defend ourselves in hypothetical confrontations. This complete cease-fire will start on September 18, 1998.

8. The aim of the Basques is to have the Basque Country's reality, rigths and free decisions respected. The aim and wish of Euskadi Ta Askatasuna is that Basque people face up to their responsabilities and achieve independence for the Basque Country. We really hope Basque people's answer will be as significant as the step we have taken. Finally, we want to let everybody know that it will be future events and attitudes that will determine whether this cease-fire will last for ever or not.