Last weekend saw the foundational Congress of abertzale left new political party SORTU after a decade of banning. Friendly parties from all over the world attended the Congress. 

The Congress approved a Resolution on International affairs. In it the Basque party underlined, among other things, its support for the Kurdish people. "We reaffirm - the statement reads - our support for the struggle of the Kurdish people. In this respect, we call for the end of the repression against political activists, lawyers, journalists, etc. of Kurdish nationality and the release of their leader Abdullah Ocalan, as well as the opening of a dialogue and negotiation process that will lead to a fair and lasting peace".

Here is the full text of the statement:
SORTU is holding its Founding Congress in the midst of a deep structural crisis in capitalism; this crisis goes beyond the economic crisis and is compounded by the crisis affecting energy, food and the very systems of political representation. It is a crisis that is also present in the framework of a growing dispute over geopolitical space, with the emergence of new poles of power and the increase of aggressiveness and interference by imperialist forces, who see their hegemony in danger, in the struggle over energy and natural resources putting world peace in danger.

This global economic crisis shows no sign of change. Meanwhile, the recipes that continue to be handed down by those responsible for running the international financial institutions seek only a greater increase in profits for the powerful and are anchored in neoliberal dogmas.

An accurate example of this is the European Union where, from the predominant ideological postulates of neoliberalism, an economic policy of permanent austerity is marked out prioritizing financial capital simply widening the gap between the increasingly fewer and richer, and the poor, who are growing in numbers and becoming even poorer. A policy that is snatching sovereignty away from the peoples that are part of it, leaving it in the hands of the undemocratic centres of economic power. A European Union that is responding thus to the interests of great financial capital by distancing itself from the peoples and citizens that are part of it. A Europe in which inequalities are multiplying and rights are being curtailed.

In stark contrast, we have Latin America, where the progressive and leftist forces are forging the destinies of a considerable number of nations in the region deploying initiatives that have, to a certain extent, enabled the long, neoliberal night to be overcome. This is taking place through the supporting of wide-ranging social plans and the securing of undeniable successes in the fight against poverty, malnourishment and illiteracy. But this has not been without difficulties: the reactionary forces have unleashed a wide-ranging media campaign, orchestrated internationally through by media, political and economic powers.

In other areas, in Africa, the Middle East and the Pacific, for instance, as we have pointed out, interference by imperialist, neo-colonialist powers who are fighting over raw materials and the increasingly limited energy resources is multiplying. The outbreak of the revolts in some countries in the Maghreb and the Arab World against oppression, corruption and lack of rights perpetrated by their dictatorial regimes is a reason for congratulating these peoples. That does not prevent us from observing and denouncing the interests of the neo-colonialist, imperialist forces as well as the desire of the reactionary forces in the region to put the brakes on and divert this emancipating movement from its path towards democracy, liberation and a decent life.

And facing this global scenario, there are peoples and working class who have to resist. Those who are opposing this neoliberal dogma are peoples struggling for their national sovereignty, for free determination, and to be owners of their destiny. They are men and women who represent the broad social majority who have to respond to their impoverishment and loss of power.

Sortu supports the anti-imperialist, internationalist struggle that the Basque nationalist movement has shown from its very origins (from its support for the struggle for the Independence of Cuba, the Philippines or the Rif). We support and defend the struggle of all peoples for free determination as laid down in the Charter of Algiers, for national sovereignty and against external and internal colonialism. That is why we are advocating a Europe of peoples and of the men and women who are part of it. A Europe based on freedom, solidarity and social justice. A Europe that advocates solidarity based on non-interference. A Europe in which all the peoples can freely decide their future.

An internationalist solidarity that prompts us to do the following:

*to support the channels of dialogue and negotiation designed to resolve the on going conflicts.

*to be on the side of the working classes in the French and Spanish States in particular, and Europe in general.

*to support the demands from the different peoples in the Spanish and French States and, in particular, the demand for full national sovereignty by the Catalan Countries, Galicia, Corsica and New Calledonia.

*to show our full support for a united, Gaelic-speaking, free Ireland. We congratulate our sister party Sinn Fein for the advances secured in this respect, and wish them every future success.

*to welcome the agreement reached between the Scottish Government and the British Government on the holding of a referendum on Scottish independence.

*from the deep bonds of friendship that have historically linked the Basque nationalist left with the Polisario Front, we reaffirm our total solidarity with the struggle of the Saharan people for their inalienable right to free determination. In this respect, we express our commitment to continuing to make every possible effort on the basis of solidarity and joint work in order to secure the implementing of the UN resolutions in this respect, as well as the end of the violations of human, civil and political rights and the establishing of economic and cultural rights in the occupied territories.

*to express our undivided support for the Palestinian cause and its struggle for free determination and the setting up of a full, viable and sovereign Palestinian State. We are calling for a fair, lasting solution that will end the occupation of Palestinian territory and bring about the liberation of political prisoners and return of refugees. We are calling for the end to the illegal settlements and the bantustanization of the territory. We likewise welcome the efforts being made by the Palestinian organisations in their inter-Palestinian dialogue to build a national, united and effective strategy. We commit ourselves to reinforcing internationalist solidarity with the struggle of the Palestinian people.

*to reaffirm our support for the struggle of the Kurdish people. In this respect, we call for the end of the repression against political activists, lawyers, journalists, etc. of Kurdish nationality and the release of their leader Abdullah Ocalan, as well as the opening of a dialogue and negotiation process that will lead to a fair and lasting peace.

*to support dialogue between the National Democratic Front of the Philippines and the Government so that they will address the historical demands of the Philippine people for human rights and the deep economic and social roots of the conflict.

*to show our full support for the dialogue and negotiation process opened between the Colombian Government and the FARC. We hope shortly to be able to see progress on the incorporation of the ELN into this dialogue process. We understand that the process started should address the deep economic, social and political reasons underpinning the armed conflict. According to what has been demanded by various authorities and accepted by the FARC Secretariat, we understand that an agreement on armed détente or at least one on the application of Humanitarian Law would facilitate the context of the negotiations as well as prevent the absurd, pointless loss of human life. We deplore the harassment, branding and persecution of those who are seeking and working for peace. We urge the Colombian State to guarantee the ideological and political freedom of the political and social opposition, as well as the safety of all its members, in particular our comrades in the Marcha Patriótica (Patriotic March), the Cumbre de los Pueblos (Peoples’ Summit) and the Indigenous Minga movement. We also display all our solidarity and support for our comrades in Colombianos por la Paz (Colombians for Peace) and we encourage them to continue along the path they have taken towards a fair and lasting peace for Colombia.

* to reiterate our total support and admiration for the Cuban people and their revolution. Likewise, and together with all the progressive forces of the world, we call for the end of the unjust, inhumane economic embargo that the island is being subjected to, and for the release of the Five Cuban Heroes unfairly imprisoned.

* to greet the Venezuelan people and to display our total solidarity with the Bolivarian revolution, and acknowledge their progress on the road to social justice. We wish President Hugo Chavez-Frias a swift recovery and send him a fraternal revolutionary embrace.

* to show, at the same time, our solidarity with the emancipating processes taking place in various countries of Latin America and their progressive governments, as in Bolivia, Ecuador, Uruguay, Brazil, Salvador, or Nicaragua.

* to show solidarity also with the peoples and working classes who have gone out into the streets in the Maghreb and the Middle East to fight for social justice and against oppression.

* to support the peoples who in Africa, Asia or the Caribbean are fighting to rid themselves of the neocolonial yoke and achieve full sovereignty. We congratulate the African National Congress for the recent celebration of its centenary, one hundred years of struggle to end apartheid in South Africa.

*in short, to put ourselves on the side of all manner of oppressed people. Because solidarity represents the affection of peoples.