DATE=9/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-238806
TITLE=SPAIN / ETA CEASEFIRE (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GIL CARBAJAL
DATELINE=MADRID
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT HAS REACTED CAUTIOUSLY TO A
CEASEFIRE DECLARATION BY THE BASQUE SEPARATIST GROUP E-T-A. GIL
CARBAJAL IN MADRID REPORTS THE UNCONDITIONAL TRUCE IS TO GO INTO
EFFECT FRIDAY.
TEXT: SPANISH INTERIOR MINISTER JAIME MAYOR OREJA EXPRESSED DEEP
SKEPTICISM WITH THE E-T-A ANNOUNCEMENT. MR. MAYOR OREJA CALLED
FOR CAUTION AND PRUDENCE. AND HE REITERATED THE GOVERMENT'S
DEMAND THAT E-T-A LAY DOWN ITS WEAPONS BEFORE ANY NEGOTIATIONS
CAN TAKE PLACE.
THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF SPAIN'S MAJOR OPPOSITION PARTY, THE
SOCIALISTS, MADE SIMILAR COMMENTS.
E-T-A DECLARED THE CEASEFIRE -- THE FIRST UNCONDITIONAL TRUCE BY
THE SEPARATIST GROUP -- LATE WEDNESDAY. MORE THAN 800 PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN KILLED IN 30 YEARS OF ARMED ACTIVITY BY THE
ORGANIZATION.
/// OPT /// FOUR PREVIOUS E-T-A CEASEFIRES HAVE BEEN CALLED
FOR LIMITED PERIODS AND WITH CLEAR TACTICAL ENDS. /// END OPT
///
IN A FOUR-PAGE COMMUNIQUE PUBLISHED IN THE RADICAL BASQUE
NEWSPAPER EUSKADI INFORMACION, E-T-A SAID THE PRESENT POLITICAL
SITUATION IN SPAIN IS THE MOST FAVORABLE FOR ACHIEVING ITS GOAL
OF BASQUE SELF-DETERMINATION SINCE THE SPANISH TRANSITION TO
DEMOCRACY 20 YEARS AGO.
NATIONALIST PARTIES IN THE BASQUE REGION LAST WEEKEND SIGNED A
DECLARATION CALLING FOR MULTILATERAL PEACE TALKS WITH E-T-A. IT
WAS SIGNED BY 23 BASQUE POLITICAL PARTIES, LABOR UNIONS, AND
OTHER GROUPS. THE DECLARATION FOLLOWED MONTHS OF SECRET TALKS
BETWEEN REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NATIONAL BASQUE PARTY -- WHICH
CONTROLS THE BASQUE REGIONAL GOVERNMENT -- AND OF HERRI BATASUNA,
THE POLITICAL WING OF E-T-A.
THE CEASEFIRE COMES JUST WEEKS BEFORE BASQUE REGIONAL ELECTIONS
ON OCTOBER 25TH. IN PREPARATION FOR THOSE ELECTIONS, THE E-T-A
POLITICAL WING CHANGED ITS NAME AND SOUGHT TO BROADEN ITS BASE OF
SUPPORT TO ATTRACT MORE MODERATE BASQUE NATIONALISTS.
E-T-A HAS NOT CARRIED OUT A TERRORIST ACT SINCE JUNE 25TH WHEN
IT MURDERED A COUNCILMAN FROM THE RULING POPULAR PARTY. HOWEVER,
ITS YOUTH GROUPS HAVE BEEN ACTIVE, CARRYING OUT ACTS OF ARSON AND
VANDALISM.
IN JULY, THE GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN THE PRO-E-T-A NEWSPAPER EGIN,
SEIZING DOCUMENTS THE GOVERNMENT SAYS CONFIRM DIRECT
COLLABORATION BY MEMBERS OF THE NEWSPAPER STAFF IN THE FINANCIAL,
INFORMATION GATHERING, AND TERRORIST ACTS OF E-T-A. (SIGNED)
NEB/GC/JWH/KL
17-Sep-98 11:29 AM EDT (1529 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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