[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Pages 1538-1539]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



   SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 82--CONDEMNING THE ASSASSINATION OF 
FERNANDO BUESA AND JORGE DIEZ ELORZA, SPANISH NATIONALS, BY THE BASQUE 
 SEPARATIST GROUP, ETA, AND EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE CONGRESS THAT 
                      VIOLENT ACTIONS BY ETA CEASE

  Mr. DODD submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                            S. Con. Res. 82

       Whereas on February 22, 2000, the Basque terrorist group 
     ETA killed Fernando Buesa, the leader of the Basque Socialist 
     Party, and Jorge Diez Elorza, a member of his escort, in a 
     cowardly bomb attack;
       Whereas this heinous crime displays absolute contempt for 
     human rights and the right to life by those individuals who 
     practice terrorism and threaten freedom, peace, liberty, and 
     the peaceful coexistence of the Basque people and the people 
     of Spain; and
       Whereas Spain is a democracy where the rule of law is 
     enforced and terrorist acts are not tolerated: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) strongly condemns and denounces those responsible for 
     the cowardly bombing that killed Fernando Buesa and Jorge 
     Diez Elorza;
       (2) strongly shares the determination of the Spanish people 
     that the perpetrators of this vile act will be brought 
     swiftly to justice so that Spain may demonstrate its 
     opposition to acts of terror;
       (3) calls again on ETA and those responsible for this act 
     to renounce violence and terrorism which have taken so many 
     lives; and
       (4) continues to cherish the strong friendship between 
     Spain and the United States.

  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I know I will be joined by every Member of 
the Senate as I express my deepest condolences to the families of 
Fernando Buesa and Jorge Diez Elorza, who were tragically killed in 
Tuesday's bombing attack by the Spanish terrorist group ETA in Vitoria, 
Spain. I point out Fernando Buesa was the head of the Socialist Party 
in the Basque Assembly, so he was a political leader of some note and a 
highly respected leader in his own country. In the aftermath of this 
attack on human rights and peaceful coexistence, I also offer my 
thoughts and prayers to the people of Spain and the Spanish community 
around the world.
  Reports of terrorist violence in Spain are becoming far too common. 
It was only one month ago that an ETA car bomb in central Madrid killed 
one man and injured innocent children on their way to school. This 
cowardly type of terrorist expression must be stopped.
  Over a year ago, I was pleased when I heard reports of the historic 
ETA cease-fire. Under this cease-fire, Spain remained free of terrorist 
violence for 14 months and enjoyed the increase in tourism that peace 
affords. Unfortunately, in December of 1999, ETA renounced its cease-
fire, once again plunging Spain into the horrific terrorist violence 
that marked its past.
  I believe that a majority of the people in Spain, both Basque and 
Spanish, are tired of this endless violence. It is time for ETA to 
renew its cease-fire and negotiate a peace agreement with the Spanish 
government. Only then can the senseless violence that threatens to 
destroy Spain's booming economy be stopped.
  Last night, at a White House dinner I attended in honor of King Juan 
Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain, after-dinner dancing was suspended in 
memory of the killed. In this vein, I ask that we as a body reaffirm 
our commitment to human rights by condemning this most recent attack in 
Spain.

[[Page 1539]]

  Today, I submit a resolution that denounces the terrorist activities 
that killed Fernando Buesa and Jorge Diez Elorza, calls again on ETA to 
renounce the use of violence and terrorism which have taken so many 
lives, and pledges continued alliance between Spain and the United 
States, and ask it to be referred to the appropriate committee. I urge 
my colleagues to support this resolution.

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