- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly debate on 2 October 1975 (10th and 11th Sittings) (see Doc. 3664, report of the Committee on European Non-Member Countries). Text adopted by the Assembly on 2 October 1975 (11th Sitting).
- Thesaurus
The Assembly,
2. Gravely concerned by recent developments in the Iberian peninsula ;
3. Condemning the decision of the Spanish head of state to allow death sentences to be carried out on five young men accused of crimes of terrorism, after the most summary of trials violating the most elementary legal principles, in spite of all appeals for clemency from the international community, and expressing its alarm that many trials of a similar nature are pending ;
4. Regretting the intensification of repression by the present regime which constitutes an obstacle to all evolution towards democracy in Spain in its flagrant contempt for human rights ;
5. Wishing to place on record, however, that other non-democratic regimes in other European countries are similarly guilty of acts of gross injustice and oppression, as well as the denial of fair trials and human rights, and that these deserve to be condemned with equal vigour ;
6. Deploring the increase in acts of terrorism perpetrated in Spain against innocent people by certain minority groups ;
7. Convinced that the overwhelming majority of the Spanish people favour the rapid and orderly transition from authoritarian rule to a free multiparty democratic parliamentary system,
8. Hopes that the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe will reconsider the practice of the intergovernmental co-operation between the Council of Europe and Spain in the various fields where it occurs ;
9. Calls upon governments of member states of the Council of Europe to re-examine their practice regarding co-operation with the present Spanish regime and in any event not to increase this cooperation in the present circumstances ;
10. Reaffirms its belief that accession by a democratic Spain to European organisations would be of mutual benefit to Spain and to the member states of the organisations concerned ;
11. Relies upon member governments to stand firmly by their commitment to the principles of parliamentary democracy and human rights in all negotiations with Spain, making clear that Spain is sure of their wholehearted support and cooperation as soon as she commits herself to these principles ;
12. Looks forward to the day when Spain will take her place among the family of democratic European nations in the Council of Europe.
