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The Chronicle of a Proposal

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ESTATUTU POLITIKO BERRIA The chronicle of a proposal Joan zen otsailaren 2an Madrilgo buruzko eztabaida ireki nahiean parlamentuan atzera botatako eta bide batez, akordioari proposamena ez zen, askok hala ateak zabaltzeko eztabaida uste bazuten ere, bezperako proposatzen. Hona hemen azken gauza. Urteak zeramatzan bost urte hauetako kronologia Lehendakariak marko politikoari laburra. 23 FEB. 2000 "Common ground for coexistence": conference given by the Lehendakari at Club Siglo XXI in Madrid Basque President Juan José Ibarretxe analyzes the outcome of the elections held on March 12th 2000. According to the Lehendakari, in spite of election results, the so-called "Basque problem" or Basque issue, and Euskadi's place in Spain, were unsolved issues, regardless of the country's transition to democracy. At this conference the Lehendakari presents a model for coexistence and normalization in Basque society. 1 JUNE 2000 "A road to peace". The Lehendakari speaks in Bilbao a political initiative founded on Lehendakari Juan José Ibarretxe At a conference held on June 1st three different commitments in underscores what he sees as the crux 2000 at the Palacio Euskalduna terms of approach and of the political situation:peace is not entitled:"A road to peace:a common development. The first commitment sovereignty; peace is not nation- ground for coexistence," Juan José calls for principals of governing building; peace is not the Ibarretxe analyzes the current based on the right to life and Constitution.The Lehendakari makes political situation in the Basque individual freedom. Secondly is the a commitment to working towards Country, and explains the steps that democratic commitment to defend building a new road to hope,based on need to be taken to promote peace the decisions made democratically his threefold commitment. and political normalization. In by Basque society. The third Ibarretxe's view, to attain commitment is to promote dialogue 25 OCT. 2000 normalization and coexistence in between all political parties for the A democratic commitment to Basque society, a forum for dialogue purpose of work together to carry comply with the Statute of between all of the Basque political out the decisions of Basque society Gernika in its entirety parties needs to be created in an with regard to their future. To mark the twenty-first atmosphere of non-violence. anniversary of the Statute of 19 OCT. 2000 Gernika, during the debate on self- 22 SEPT. 2000 An initiative for peace and government, Lehendakari Juan General Policy Debate coexistence José Ibarretxe insists on the need In the 2000 debate on General In an October 19th 2002 address for a democratic commitment to Policy, Juan José Ibarretxe presents before the Basque Parliament, comply with and respect the 4 Issue 67 Year 2005 NEW POLITICAL STATUTE Statutory Agreement in its society. During the second session, and sufficient capacity to establish entirety. He therefore makes a Ibarretxe was re-elected its own framework of relations. In threefold democratic commitment Lehendakari with the votes from line with this argument, the to recapture the spirit of EAJ/PNV, EA and EB/IU. Lehendakari sets the guidelines for consensus, mutual respect and a new political agreement. tolerance that prevailed in the 28 SEPT. 2001 Statutory Agreement and bore Debate on Pacification, Political 27 SEPT. 2002 fruit in the form of the Statute of Normalization and Dialogue Parliamentary Debate on General Gernika. At a plenary session of the Basque Policy Parliament held to debate the subject Lehendakari Juan José 20 DEC. 2000 of pacification, Lehendakari Juan Ibarretxe presents his new Political An ethical commitment to José Ibarretxe says that ETA can no Agreement for Coexistence at a defend the right to life and longer be a reason for stifling plenary session of the Basque liberty for all people political debate on issues in the Parliament. The Lehendakari As President of the Basque Country Basque Country. He adds that by explains how to ensure full and in response to the making political normalization compliance of the Statute of overwhelming sentiment of Basque dependent upon an end to violence Gernika and advance towards a new society, in this manifesto Juan Jose provides ETA with the key to the political agreement with Spain. Ibarretxe makes an ethical future of Basque society. Ibarretxe commitment in defense of the right expresses his belief that the solution Among the central principles of of all people to life and liberty. The to the political problem in the Basque his proposal are recognition of the purpose of this undertaking is to Country must be approached through Basque people's national identity repudiate all forms of violence and dialogue. and the right to decide their own to express the commitment of future. Ibarretxe proposes that an Basque society to defend personal 19 OCT. 2001 autonomous Basque judiciary be set freedoms and respect the spirit and Institutional Manifesto in up, and expresses his conviction principles enshrined in the Universal defense of the right to life, liberty that the Basque Country should Declaration of Human Rights. and security for all people have its own voice and a direct Lehendakari Juan José Ibarretxe, in presence in institutions of the 08 FEB. 2001 the name of the Basque European Union. Kursaal Declaration Government, and the heads of Lehendakari Juan José provincial and local Basque 1 FEB. 2005 Ibarretxe presents in Donostia his governments, on behalf of a Plenary Session of the Congress manifesto "For a social majority of the citizens they of Deputies commitment to non-violence and represent, sign the Institutional The Congress of Deputies debate dialogue - the road towards a Manifesto in Defense of the Right the New Political Statute for the solution", based on four basic to Life, Liberty and Security of all Basque Country in plenary session. principles. People. The document underscores Lehendakari Juan José Ibarretxe a priority commitment to defending addresses the chamber in Madrid to Lehendakari demands that ETA the right to life as a fundamental defend the proposal, previously abandon all weapons definitively, principle for coexistence. From passed by an absolute majority of and makes a plea in defense of all their different areas of the Basque Parliament. The human rights. Ibarretxe proposes a responsibility, they undertake to Congress of Deputies voted against multi-party forum for political develop and apply all of the means the proposal. dialogue without exclusions, and available by the rule of law to insists that any decisions made by guarantee the security and 2 FEB. 2005 Basque society in the future must freedoms of each and every Basque Institutional declaration by be respected. Lastly, the citizen. Lehendakari Juan José Ibarretxe Lehendakari sees the need for calling for elections on 17 April building an open, plural and 25 OCT. 2001 After the Congress of Deputies supportive Basque society. Parliamentary Debate on Self- defeats the proposal for the New government Political Statute, approved by 11 JULY 2001 Juan José Ibarretxe denounces the absolute majority in the Basque Investiture speech failure to comply with the Statute Parliament, Lehendakari Juan José During his investiture speech, Juan of Gernika during the debate on Ibarretxe decides to let the people José Ibarretxe sets out his threefold self-government in the Basque have a voice, and calls for elections commitment to life, dialogue and Parliament. Ibarretxe declares the on April 17th 2005 in the Basque respecting the decisions of Basque Basque Country has its own identity Autonomous Community. Issue 67 Year 2005 5.
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