[Iran Press TV] Spain's armed Basque separatist group ETA has offered to resolve its conflicts with the Spanish government through democratic means, a local newspaper says.
"Faced with the stubbornness of France and Spain, ETA has decided again to launch the boat of opportunity for the democratic resolution of the conflict," ETA said according to an excerpt published by the Basque daily Gara on Saturday.
| Perhaps it's at translation error, or I'm lacking critical context. I have no idea what the above statement means. |
| For a second, I thought they were talking about the situation with Senator Kerry's yacht. |
| I think it translates (loosely) as, "Please don't kill us!" |
The newspaper said the statement, which is addressed to the international community, shows an unconditional and unilateral move by ETA, AFP reported on Sunday.
The peace offering comes two weeks after Spain rejected the declaration of a ceasefire by the ETA, saying the group should abandon violence forever.
In the statement, which is due to be published completely on Sunday, ETA called on the international community to take part in the process to achieve a "permanent, just and democratic" solution to the conflict.
ETA, however, insists that the key to the solution lies in the autonomy of Basque as a country, Gara said.
| Oh. It means they will give up the violent fight for an independent Basque nation if Spain now gives them an independent Basque nation. That seems unlikely to me, but I'm admittedly simple about such things. |
The group has been blamed for more than 820 deaths during a four-decade campaign for an independent Basque state in northeastern Spain and southwestern France. |