DATE=7/21/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251995
TITLE=SPAIN - BASQUE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SPAIN HAS RELEASED 22 FORMER LEADERS OF HERRI BATASUNA --
THE POLITICAL WING OF THE BASQUE SEPARATIST GUERRILLA MOVEMENT,
KNOWN AS "ETA" [PRON: 'EH-TUH]. THE MEN HAD BEEN SENTENCED TO
SEVEN YEARS IN JAIL FOR USING A VIDEO OF ARMED ETA GUERRILLAS
DURING THEIR 1996 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION CAMPAIGN. CORRESPONDENT
LAURIE KASSMAN TALKED WITH A HERRI BATASUNA LEADER ABOUT THE
IMPACT OF THE RELEASE.
TEXT: THE HEAD OF THE PARTY'S INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
DEPARTMENT, ESTHER AGIRRE, SAYS THE RELEASE SIGNALS A RECOGNITION
THAT THE BASQUE SOVEREIGNTY DISPUTE SHOULD BE RESOLVED THROUGH
POLITICAL MEANS, RATHER THAN BY ARMED STRUGGLE.
/// AGIRRE ACT ///
THE NEW POLITICAL SITUATION WE LIVE IN RIGHT NOW AFTER
10 MONTHS IS WHERE POLITICAL PARTIES, TRADE UNIONS,
SOCIAL MOVEMENTS, CATHOLIC CHURCH AND EVEN THE
BUSINESSMEN ARE DEMANDING A POLITICAL SOLUTION. SO I
THINK IN THAT SENSE WE'RE MAKING REAL PROGRESS.
/// END ACT ///
// OPT // MISS AGIRRE, WHO IS ALSO A DEPUTY IN THE BASQUE
PARLIAMENT, SAYS HER PARTY IS USING NORTHERN IRELAND'S PEACE PLAN
AS A MODEL.
/// SECOND AGIRRE ACT ///
THIS STRATEGY HAS CONVINCED ALL NATIONALISTS AND
PROGRESSIVE PEOPLE THAT THE ONLY REAL SOLUTION FOR THIS
POLITICAL CONFLICT IS WORKING TOGETHER, AND MAKING
POLITICAL PROPOSALS, AND TRYING TO GIVE BIRTH TO A NEW
POLITICAL SCENARIO WHERE BASQUE CITIZENS CAN DECIDE ON
THEIR OWN THEIR FUTURE.
/// END ACT /// /// END OPT ///
SPAIN'S PRIME MINISTER JOSE MARIA AZNAR HAS TOLD SPANISH RADIO HE
RESPECTS THE COURT'S DECISION LATE TUESDAY TO RELEASE THE
POLITICIANS. THE COURT HAS RULED IT UNCONSTITUTIONAL TO JAIL THE
22 HERRI BATASUNA MEMBERS FOR HAVING LINKS TO THE ETA GUERRILLAS.
MISS AGIRRE COMPLAINS THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT STILL RELIES ON WHAT
SHE CALLS A SECURITY SOLUTION TO A POLITICAL PROBLEM. SHE CALLS
FOR THE RELEASE OF MORE THAN 600 OTHER BASQUE SEPARATISTS FROM
SPANISH AND FRENCH PRISONS.
LAST YEAR HERRI BATASUNA PARTY CHANGED ITS NAME TO MARK A CLEAN
BREAK FROM THE PAST AND NAMED A MORE MODERATE LEADERSHIP. THE
GUERRILLA MOVEMENT ETA ALSO DECLARED A CEASE-FIRE. THE SPANISH
GOVERNMENT HAS CALLED ON ETA TO RENOUNCE VIOLENCE ALTOGETHER AND
MAKE ITS CEASE-FIRE INDEFINITE.
THERE IS SOME EXPECTATION NOW THAT THE CEASE-FIRE COULD BE
EXTENDED, SINCE THE RELEASE OF THE POLITICIANS WAS A KEY DEMAND
BY BASQUE SEPARATIST LEADERS IN TALKS WITH THE GOVERNMENT.
(SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/PCF/WTW
21-Jul-99 9:06 AM EDT (1306 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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