MADRID (AFX) - Spain's Socialist government wants to start talks 'without delay' with the armed Basque separatist group ETA, which has declared a permanent ceasefire, the newspaper El Pais reported.
The discussions to end the armed struggle for a separate Basque homeland will be launched 'immediately' after Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero informs parliament of this new step in the peace process.
Zapatero is expected to go before the Spanish lawmakers 'within the next 10 days,' the leftist newspaper said.
The first series of meetings with ETA will deal with questions of procedures, modes of communication and setting a schedule, according to leftist and government sources, reported El Pais, which is close to the current Socialist leadership.
The representatives of each party have already been named and their meetings will include members of the Dialogue Centre, a non-governmental organization supporting the peace process.
The group ETA announced in late March a permanent ceasefire after some 40 years of violence that have claimed more than 800 lives.
Spain has said it wants to verify ETA's commitment to the ceasefire before starting the talks. newsdesk@afxnews.com afp/ra COPYRIGHT Copyright AFX News Limited 2005. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News. AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited
The discussions to end the armed struggle for a separate Basque homeland will be launched 'immediately' after Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero informs parliament of this new step in the peace process.
Zapatero is expected to go before the Spanish lawmakers 'within the next 10 days,' the leftist newspaper said.
The first series of meetings with ETA will deal with questions of procedures, modes of communication and setting a schedule, according to leftist and government sources, reported El Pais, which is close to the current Socialist leadership.
The representatives of each party have already been named and their meetings will include members of the Dialogue Centre, a non-governmental organization supporting the peace process.
The group ETA announced in late March a permanent ceasefire after some 40 years of violence that have claimed more than 800 lives.
Spain has said it wants to verify ETA's commitment to the ceasefire before starting the talks. newsdesk@afxnews.com afp/ra COPYRIGHT Copyright AFX News Limited 2005. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News. AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited