Watson welcomes sign of optimism after ETA ceasefire announcement

12.00.00am GMT Wed 22nd Mar 2006

Graham Watson MEP, leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament and South West and Gibraltar MEP acknowledged the news of a permanent ceasefire from ETA today during Parliament's plenary session.

"In a democracy, change comes through the ballot, not through the bullet. The actions of ETA, the IRA, the Red Brigades and other terrorist groups we have known in the past have been unjustifiable. Liberals and Democrats welcome the process through which ETA has announced this ceasefire."

"I hope that the ceasefire will be followed in due course by a decommissioning of arms so that normal life may resume in the Basque country."

"Dialogue and democracy must be the basis for change in Spain and across our continent."

ALDE Basque MEP, Josu Ortuondo (PNV) also welcomed the news:

"I want to express my satisfaction that ETA has listened to the outcry of Basque society and declared a permanent cease-fire."

"Now, all the political forces in the Basque Country must enter into sincere dialogue with a combination of prudence, responsibility and commitment to solve a political conflict that has lasted three centuries."

Today will hopefully mark a watershed in the history of the Basque question, signalling an end to violence and a moment when democracy starts to deliver the lasting solution that has eluded the terrorists."

Ignasi Guardans, ALDE (Catalonia, Spain - CiU) also welcomed the announcement:

"We must proceed with caution but optimism that this marks, if not the end of the story, at least the beginning of the end of the troubles in the Spanish Basque country that have reverberated throughout Spain and beyond."