ETA ceasefire not good enough for Zapatero

The Spanish government has rejected a permanent ceasefire declared by the Basque separatist group ETA.

Madrid wants a complete and irreversible end to ETA’s 50-year armed struggle:

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez said:
“It’s an announcement by ETA that, as most of the political forces have recognised, is not enough, because what we expect from ETA is an announcement of its definite dissolution.”

Peace mediator Brian Currin wants Madrid to show courage and act on ETA’s latest overture.

“They now at this moment need to engage with ETA regarding a verification process,” he said. “I mean for the first time in the history of this conflict, ETA has agreed to a verification process of a ceasefire – and that is significant, it is hugely important.”

ETA has killed more than 850 people in its violent campaign for an independent state in northern Spain and south west France.

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