Zapatero will talk to ETA if it agrees to disarm

SPAIN: The Spanish parliament yesterday approved a controversial proposal to authorise the government to open dialogue with …

SPAIN: The Spanish parliament yesterday approved a controversial proposal to authorise the government to open dialogue with the terrorist organisation, ETA - but only when they agree to renounce violence.

The measure was passed by 192 votes to 147, with only the main opposition Popular Party opposing the measure.

The prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero held out his olive branch last week in the first "state of the nation" address since he came to power a year ago.

"Today the nation is stronger than ever, and although ETA can still attack, it is weaker than ever before," he said. But he did not offer them carte blanche, saying that they must first agree to disarm. "Violence has no price, and Spanish democracy will never accept blackmail."

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If ETA grasps Mr Zapatero's "outstretched hand", it will not be the first time that a government has had contacts with the terrorists, although they have always been reluctant to describe them as "negotiations", preferring terms such as "contacts" or "taking the temperature".

Felipe Gonzalez's socialists held secret talks with ETA in Algeria in the 1980s and the Popular Party government of José Maria Aznar held brief meetings in Switzerland during ETA's 14-month truce which ended in January 2000. Efficient policing and close co-operation between France and Spain have reduced ETA to its weakest point in more than 30 years of its bloody history. Although it is almost two years since their last killing, ETA is still capable of violence.

Only last weekend four bombs destroyed warehouses and businesses in the Basque region and injured two policemen.

Relations between the socialist government and the Popular Party are at their lowest ebb in 25 years. There was an agreement that terrorism should not be used as a political weapon. However, the anti-terrorist pact has collapsed in recent months as the Popular Party has continually criticised the government.

The leader of the opposition, Mariano Rajoy described Mr Zapatero as a "traitor", saying he was "betraying the memory of 1,000 ETA victims" by offering to talk to them.

A senior government official last week accused the popular Party of "disloyalty". "They can criticise the government as much as they like on internal issues, but should never criticise them on terrorism or defence matters," he said.

Jordi Jane, the spokesman for the Catalan CiU whose party supported the proposal, admitted the government was embarking on a risky operation. "But it is our duty to explore ways of dialogue. We need discretion and caution. It cannot be peace at any price, but it will be worth the effort."