Political pressures block Flemish resolution of support to Basque Peace Process

An ample consensus had been achieved in the preliminary work in the Flemish Parliament in support of a resolution that demanded from the Spanish Government and Parliament to take a more constructive approach to the Basque Peace Process (and also to the illegitimate government in the Western Basque Country). The initiative gathered the support of all Flemish political parties (but the fascist Vlaams Belang, isolated by all other parties): the New Femish Alliance, the Christian-Democrats of Flanders, the Socialist Party, the Greens, the Liberal-Democrats and the Flemish Movement.

However it has been reported now that some of the supporters of this initiative have decided to drop it after pressures of the Spanish political parties. After some attempts to introduce amendments that would turn the resolution into nothing, the initiative was pulled back.

The failed resolution (which had already passed the commission of foreign affairs) asked:

1. To the Spanish and Western Basque governments to give constructive response to the ceasefire by ETA and promote the Peace Process in a constructive manner.
2. To the Flemish government to support the Peace Process in the various European forums it belongs to.
3. To the Flemish government to pay due attention to violations of human, civil and political rights in the Basque Country.
4. To the Belgian government to follow the Flemish government in all this.
5. To the Flemish government to increase the direct bilateral relations with the Basque Country.

Source: Gara[es].