25.10.03

Today, October 25 2003, at 10.30 AM, at an extraordinary meeting held at the Palacio de Ajuria Enea on the 24th anniversary of the passing of the first Statute of Autonomy, drawn up at the end of the Franco dictatorship, and exactly 164 years since the abolition in 1839 of the special rights of the Basque Country, the Basque Government, elected democratically by Basque society and formed by the Partido Nacionalista Vasco, Eusko Alkartasuna and Ezker Batua-Izquierda Unida, has decided to adopt the Proposal for a new Basque Political Statute of Free Association with the Spanish State. It is, therefore, a historic day for our people.

An undertaking to Basque society to provide solutions

This new Political Statute of the Basque Country represents a response to the undertaking that the Government and the three political parties that make it up have made to Basque society, namely, to provide solutions. It is a commitment based on desire and hope. A commitment to provide a solution, a positive commitment, a commitment to an affirmative response, to a “yes” response. Yes to human rights and the freedom of all individuals. Yes to respecting the democratic rights of Basque society to decide their own future without violence. Yes to the social construction of a Basque Country for all Basque citizens, without exclusion.

A new Statute for a new generation.

Based on these three positive commitments, assuming our institutional responsibility and in the exercise of our authority, acknowledged in article 46 of the Gernika Statute of Economy, the Basque Government wishes to initiate a new phase in the development of the Basque Country. We propose a new Statute for a new generation of Basque men and women. We propose a new Statute to provide a better response to Basque society’s desire for change and to find solutions to its problems. It is a modern proposal for the Basque Country's relations with the State, with Europe and the world.

A proposal for a better life.

For Basque men and women, self-government is a synonym of well-being. This is shown in the issues dealt with in the Gernika Statute of Autonomy. We are fully convinced that a higher degree of self-government will also bring with it a higher level of well-being for each and every one of us. We need new instruments and new powers. We need more decision-taking powers in order to enable Basque society to face the challenges of the future with greater guarantees. We propose this new Statute for a better life.

A pacific and democratic proposal A proposal for coexistence.

The new Statute does not propose a split but a new framework of coexistence with the Spanish State. We wish to coexist in mutual recognition and respect. We wish to initiate an orderly, calm debate. We propose a pacific, normalised dialogue, without insults, without defamatory remarks. We appeal to the democratic spirit of the peoples of Spain so that the majority wish of Basque society, expressed in a pacific and democratic way, may be respected. We ask only for the right to express ourselves.

A starting point for dialogue.

The proposal passed today by the Cabinet is a result of the joint effort of the three political parties that make it up. Between us all we have established a starting point for dialogue. We are going to submit to the Basque Parliament a set of regulations whereby all the parliamentary groups that represent the different political and ideological opinions in Basque society may freely make their own contributions and modifications. Because, however great our differences may be, we all have a common objective: to achieve a higher level of consensus in order to coexist in peace.

An appeal to hope and participation.

I wish to appeal expressly to each and every one of the citizens of the Basque Country. This proposal for coexistence has been drawn up with the aim that each and every one of you will take part in its development and ratification. The future of all those who live in the Basque Country, will be decided with our vote. It is our right and nothing and no one can take that away from us. I offer you encouragement. Do not lose your enthusiasm and hope. Never allow yourself to succumb to fear or disillusionment. But do not resort to insults or confrontations because they do not lead anywhere. Between us all, we are finally going to carve out a tunnel so that we may see the light of our future, a new dawn. The light of our well-being, the light of coexistence and the light of peace. I invite you therefore to examine this proposal in depth, to participate actively in the debate and to demand that all the political representatives of the Basque Country and of the Spanish State show responsibility, generosity and altruism and, especially, you must demand that we keep talking.

It will be up to Basque society to take the final decision. A process in which everyone can take part is a worthwhile endeavour. In the Basque Country there is a place for everyone. Every opinion and, especially, every person, every citizen, is important, indispensable. Between us all we can construct an alternative future. Between us all we can find the road that will lead us to a solution. Because the more of those who believe that coexistence is possible, the nearer we will be to achieving it. Where there is a will there is a way. In the end, it will be the whole of Basque society and each of the provinces that currently make it up, Araba, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa, who will have the opportunity to ratify the agreements reached in the Basque Parliament, through a referendum under peaceful conditions, without violence and without exclusions.

Eskerrik asko. Eskerrik asko denoi.