ETA ceasefire rejected - Trust must be built

JUST as this country did with our own terrorists, Spain is having difficulties accepting that the ceasefire announced by Basque separatists ETA is genuine.

Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba yesterday rejected the pledge saying the organisation was decimated by arrests and desperate to rearm. He also ruled out talks on an independent homeland for Basques.

Our recent history shows that talks, no matter how torturous and seemingly interminable, are the only real path to a lasting peace.

Our history also shows that there can be no ambiguity about ceasefires if talks are to have any prospect of success.