Terror victims ‘worried’ about concessions to ETA

21 June 2005

MADRID — The Spanish Association of the Victims of Terrorism has said it remains concerned about any concessions being given to the Basque terrorist group ETA if talks take place with Madrid.

Francisco José Alcaraz, president of AVT, was speaking following a meeting with prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.

 Alcaraz said he was still “worried” and “uncertain” that concessions might be granted to ETA if talks took place.

Last weekend, ETA said it had ceased attacks on politicians and asked for dialogue with Madrid.

But the same day it launched a petrol bomb attack on the home of a Socialist mayor in the Basque Country. There were no injuries.

Last month, the Spanish parliament agreed to talks with ETA for the first time on condition they give up their armed struggle.

Previous governments have held secret talks but this is the first time parliament has sanctioned the move.

Zapatero faced huge criticism over the move and hundreds of thousands of demonstrators marched against it in Madrid earlier this month. 

ETA has killed 830 people since it took up arms for a separatist Basque Country in north-west Spain and parts of south-west France.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news