PNV proposes cross-party analysis of ETA ceasefire

The president of the Basque nationalist party, PNV, on Friday setforward his party''s plan to propose "the possibility of an analysis"among all Basque political parties regarding ETA''s latest announcement."I believe that in a single analysis we can fit all the ideologicalsensibilities that represent a cross section of Basque society," headded.

He stressed that this latest initiative by the PNV was notintended to compete with that of any other political group, whether itbe the PSE or other party. He added that all the political partiescombined owe it to the Basque people "to continue making the necessaryefforts and not to sit and wait for the fruit to ripen."

Premise: For ETA to abandon arms Urkullualso stressed the need for the Basque people to be able to decide which"political project" they most like, though he also added that a premisefor the PNV is the "total abandonment of violence on the part of ETA".

Reply from López

Inresponse to the PNV''s proposal, the Basque President Patxi López saidthere was already a party consensus and it was that there was "nothingnew" (in the latest announcement). López believes that "what we need todo" is "look after existing initiatives".

In this respect, hestressed the importance of "maintaining" the fight against terrorism"which is what has brought us this far".