ETA 'Close' to arrange down arms

MADRID - the Spanish Government believes ETA is close to his arms but will treat no new promises of peace from the Basque terrorist group with extreme care, Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba said in an interview with radio Euskadi Tuesday.

"We have to be reasonably suspicious that deserves our trust of which," said Mr Rubalcaba.

Associated press in this photo released by the Basque newspaper Gara, two unidentified and masked ETA members are seen at a table in a quiet place.

ETA ceasefire declared in September, and the group is on in the coming days a commitment great speculation their weapons for good lay down will announce. Arnaldo Otegi, the leaders of ETA political wing, told the Wall Street Journal in an interview Tuesday that is ready to give up the group violence and peaceful strategy to create an independent Basque State.

Mr Rubalcaba said he related posts from other political leaders close to ETA in recent weeks heard and not that "decades huge acts of murder can be closed with these statements." He said it is not time for the set of instructions to move actions and he any possibility of negotiating with ETA again.

The Group has around several cease-fires in the past only return to violence when satisfy your still not announced. The collapse of the latest peace process in December 2006 was a blow to the Government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, who had staked much of his political capital on an ETA peace agreement.

"We no longer believe in this game," said Mr Rubalcaba as regards the possibility to negotiate with ETA. He also said that the Government has no interest in connection with international mediators in the Basque conflict resolve as some politicians have requested close to ETA.

AP click image to enlarge

As the latest peace talks broke down four years ago, Spain mid links Socialist Party Government has on a carrot and stick in an effort used to retrieve ETA lay down their arms. With the help of the French security forces Spain on ETA has members and their political allies arrest more than 400 suspicious cracked down.

The Spanish Government has granted but quiet prisoners benefits ETA, to break ranks with the group, some jails move nearer home. Surveys show support in Basque society, for the group is at historic lows.

"I am convinced that we are at the beginning of the end of violence," said Mr Rubalcaba. ETA has killed 829 people during a four decade campaign for an independent Basque country in Northern Spain and Aquitaine.

Write toJonathan House at jonathan.house@dowjones.com

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