The Spanish political world has received the news of the unlimited truce called by the Basque separatist movement, ETA, with varying degrees of support and scepticism. While the principal Basque nationalist parties have welcomed the open-ended ceasefire as an important step towards a peaceful solution, the news was more cautiously accepted by the governing Popular Party and by the Socialists.
The government response to the announcement was decidedly chilly, although the Interior Minister, Mr Jaime Mayor Oreja, has toned down his original description of the truce as a "trick". While recognising that the Spanish people have welcomed the news with relief, he warned of the dangers which lie ahead. "Future events will determine future moves," he said. "But at least while the truce lasts there will be no more tragedy or deaths."
He called on all democratic political parties to join together to work for a peaceful solution and reminded "the Basque people that all advances towards pacification in the Basque Country must be based on established democratic process and the rule of law. Only time will be the judge whether their offer is genuine".
The Socialist leader, Mr Joaquin Almunia, himself a Basque, was even more cautious. "ETA has announced a temporary cessation in its terrorist violence," he said yesterday. "Its history prevents us from welcoming it, although we share the relief felt by the Spanish people. ETA has not renounced arms. It has merely offered an indefinite truce and not the definitive renunciation of violence." A spokesman for Herri Batasuna, ETA's political front, expressed satisfaction with the announcement. He said that the ones most dissatisfied with the truce were the government and the Socialist Party. "They seem uncomfortable with the situation which will force them to make concessions," he said. However, there have been indications that hardline members of ETA are opposed to the ceasefire, and that a renegade sector could easily return to violence.
Mr Xabier Arzallus, President of the Basque Nationalist Party, saw the ceasefire as a major step forward but was more cautions about the future. "This is just the first step in a long path which will be full of obstacles," he said. Mr Jose Maria Atutxa, the Basque government's Interior Minister, referred to ETA's many victims, "who cannot be here to share the satisfaction we are feeling today".
On several occasions during the past 17 years the terrorist organisation has announced ceasefires. But this is the first time that no limit has been placed on the cessation. A truce in 1981, in the wake of the attempted coup d'etat when Civil Guards took over the parliament building, led to the dissolution of ETA-Politico Militar, with the majority of its members accepting the democratic process. A similar one in 1989 permitted contacts in Algeria between representatives of the government and ETA militants.
One point which has caused concern this week is that ETA's communique makes no mention of any kind of decommissioning of arms. In fact, one paragraph in its statement stressed that while ETA was suspending armed action, it "would continue with its normal functions and maintain its structure and its right to defend itself if faced with any hypothetical confrontation".