ETA TRUCE

By Jason Moore EVERYONE, from King Juan Carlos downwards, is being very cautious over the truce announced last week by the outlawed Basque terror group, ETA. It is indeed very good news but I want to know what Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero offered the terrorists to bring them to the negotiating table. While everyone was quick to point out the similarities between the Basque Country and Northern Ireland, politically speaking it is a different state of affairs. The Basque Country is already ruled by moderate nationalists, who have said on many occasions that they want greater home-rule. ETA wants a seperate Basque state to be established. On the back of the ETA truce I can see the Basques pushing for their final goal, to become a state within Spain. Cataluña, the all powerful province presided over by Barcelona, is already moving in that direction. There are some who believe that the Basques and Catalans should have greater control but there are others who believe that we are seeing the break-up of Spain as we know it. The opposition Partido Popular is opposed to greater autonomy for the regions. I expect more details to come to light on ETA's new plans. Zapatero is calling for them to disarm. But while ETA's truce has been celebrated the next step for Zapatero could be very difficult especially if he doesn't want to re-ignite the debate over home rule.