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ETA Faction Hails Talks with Spain
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=12D6DE2:3919ACA Batasuna party
spokesman says decision to open talks with ETA terrorist movement
showed Spanish prime minister respected importance of achieving 
political compromise in Spain's Basque country ETA's political wing,
the Batasuna Party, has hailed the Spanish government's announcement
it would hold talks with the Basque terrorist group - which may end
nearly four decades of separatist violence in Spain. Batasuna also
wants the French government to be involved in the talks.







Leader of outlawed Basque Batasuna party Arnaldo Otegi, center, speaks
during press conference in San Sebastian in northern Spain, FridayIn a
telephone interview Friday, a Batasuna Party spokesman Joseba Alvarez
said Mr. Zapatero's decision to open talks with the ETA terrorist
movement showed the Spanish prime minister respected the importance of
achieving a political compromise in Spain's Basque country.

Alvarez said it is important that the French government enter into a
similar dialogue with ETA. On Friday, the Batasuna party filed a
petition for such talks at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris. In
the past, French officials have reacted coolly to the possibility of
negotiating with ETA, but Alvarez said historically France tends to
follow the Spanish governments policies toward the armed group.

ETA has waged a bloody, 38-year struggle to establish an independent
Basque country in northern Spain and in southwestern France. And while
all of the 800 ETA-related killings have taken place in Spain, French
and Spanish authorities have cooperated closely in arresting and
imprisoning suspected ETA members on both sides of the border.

Mr. Zapatero's decision to enter talks with ETA comes after the group
announced a cease-fire in March. The prime minister's announcement was
hailed by European Commission head, Jose Manuel Barroso, who said he
hoped the talks would lead to the end of terrorism in Spain.

But many Spaniards are against any dialogue with ETA. So is Spain's
main opposition Popular Party, which has criticized Mr. Zapatero's
decision. Earlier this month, at least 200,000 people protested
against such negotiations in Madrid. Alvarez, the Batasuna spokesman,
believes the Popular Party will eventually have no other choice but to
support dialogue with ETA.


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