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ETA says cease-fire depends on Spain's moves: paper

Posted on: Tuesday, 6 December 2005, 04:27 CST

MADRID (Reuters) - Armed Basque separatist group ETA will not call a cease-fire until the Spanish and French governments make concessions, a Basque newspaper reported on Tuesday, quoting the group's internal bulletin.

ETA announced in June it would stop attacking elected politicians and has made repeated calls for talks, fuelling speculation a full cease-fire could be imminent.

But El Correo newspaper said on Tuesday ETA was tired of calls for a cease-fire and set out conditions for a truce including recognition of its right to self-determination.

The group, which wants an independent state cut out of northern Spain and southwestern France, continues to set off bombs but has not killed anyone since May 2003.

"Steps from just one side or a cease-fire do not bring the solution," the paper quoted ETA's internal bulletin as saying.

ETA called for a "cease-fire" from the French and Spanish security forces, calling for those countries to "deactivate their armed forces, to stop actions against the Basque Country, as a first step."

The Spanish government said in May it would talk to ETA if it laid down its arms. It has since said it will only accept a complete halt to violence as a condition for negotiations.

ETA is considered a terrorist organization by Spain, the European Union and the United States.

Source: REUTERS

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