Spanish leader to seek joint stance on Eta cease-fire

Spain’s Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero was to meet the leader of the conservative opposition Popular Party today to discuss what path to take after the cease-fire announcement by the armed Basque group Eta.

Government sources said Zapatero would assure the Popular Party’s Mariano Rajoy that he intends to keep him fully abreast of developments in any negotiations. The Popular Party is likely to push for guarantees that no political price will be paid in exchange for Eta halting its violent campaign.

Eta, blamed for more than 800 killings since it started its armed campaign for Basque independence in 1968, announced a permanent cease-fire on March 22. It took effect at midnight last Thursday.

The two main parties have clashed bitterly over Eta since Zapatero came to power in 2004, and Rajoy has criticised the Socialist leader almost daily.

The opposition party stepped up its campaign after Zapatero won parliamentary backing in May 2005 to offer Eta negotiations on condition it renounce violence.

The conservatives say the cease-fire may be a ruse for Eta to regroup, as it did during a 14-month unilateral truce in 1998.

Zapatero says he has a “road map” peace plan for the region, but needs the support of the conservatives.

The talks are the first between Zapatero and Rajoy since September 2004.

Opinion polls show a majority of Spaniards agree Zapatero should negotiate to ensure an end to the violence and that the Popular Party should help him.

Yesterday, Spain’s Roman Catholic Church called on the governing and opposition parties to unite and work for peace.