Basque militants lay down weapons

Article reported that the militant Basque separatist group Eta announced on the 20 October 2011 that the 'definitive cessation of its military activity' after more than 50 years of violence, in a move likely to herald the end of the only remaining sustained armed conflict in western Europe.

In a statement the group said 'Eta is calling on the governments of Spain and France to open a process of direct dialogue which would have the aim of resolving the consequences of the conflict, and thus of overcoming the armed confrontation'.

ESO: Background information: Regional premier sees ‘new Basque era’ http://www.europeansources.info/record/regional-premier-sees-new-basque-era/

BBC News, 21.10.11: Spanish PM Zapatero hails end to Basque Eta violence http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15398799

Deutsche Welle, 21.10.11: Basque militants lay down arms after decades-long terror campaign http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15476908,00.html

El País, 21.10.11: ETA announces end to violence http://www.elpais.com/articulo/english/ETA/announces/end/to/violence/elpepueng/20111020elpeng_2/Ten

Council of Europe: Press Release, 21.10.11: ETA announcement of end to violent action: Statement by Secretary General http://www.coe.int/lportal/web/coe-portal/press/newsroom?p_p_id=newsroom&_newsroom_articleId=682011&_newsroom_groupId=10226&_newsroom_tabs=newsroom-topnews&pager.offset=0

European Commission: RAPID: MEMO/11/724: Statement by President Barroso on the definitive cessation of ETA's military activities http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/11/724&format=PDF&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

PressEurop, 21.10.11: Spain - ETA says “basta” to armed struggle http://www.presseurop.eu//en/content/press-review/1082521-spain-eta-says-basta-armed-struggle

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