Basque Country unites to honor victims of terrorism
Regional institutions celebrate first 'Day of Memory'
Institutions in the Basque Country came together on Wednesday to commemorate the victims of ETA, GAL, the Basque Spanish Battalion and other violent groups in the region's first Day of Memory. The date November 10 was chosen as it is one of the few days when lives have never claimed by terrorist attacks.
The commemoration - supported by the Basque government, most of the regional parliament, provincial governments, town halls and other institutions - honored victims of terrorist violence as "reference points for a future peace."
Only the Basque nationalist parties EA and Aralar disassociated themselves from the tribute.
The day's events began in Vitoria's Ajuria Enea Palace, where Basque regional leader Patxi López of the Socialist Party praised the "infinite patience" of terrorist victims, and continued with tributes in the regional parliament, town halls and the Basque police academy in Arkaute, among others.
