The short quotes you have above do still sound to be like a way for the PP to position itself to claim partial credit for a positive outcome should one come out of the Zapatero government's current initiatives.

Right now I've got to quit ET and get back to my deadlines but look forward to reading more this evening and over the days and months to come.

ETA MESSAGE TO THE BASQUE PEOPLE

ETA has decided to annouce a permanent ceasefire begining the 24 March 2006.

The obejctive of this decision is to impel a democratic process in the Basque Country to construct a new era in which our rights as a people will be recognized, assuring the we may look to the future with the possibility of developing all poltical options.

At the end of this process Basque citizens should have the word and the decision over their future.

The Spanish and French States should reconize the results of said democratic process, and without any type of limitation. The decision of Basque citizens take for our future shoulc be respected.

We make a call to Spanish and French authorities to respond positively to this new situation, putting aside repression.

Finally, we make a call to Basques citizen that they involve themselves in this process, and fight for the rights belonging to us as a people.

ETA shows its desire and willingness to follow an open process to the end, and to gain a truely democratic situation for Euskal Herria, overcoming the conflict of many and building a peace based in justice.

We reaffirm commitment to take steps in future agreements willingly.

The overcoming of this conflict, here and now, is possible. That is the desire and the will of ETA.

Euskal Herrian, 2006ko martxoan

Euskadi Ta Askatasuna

E.T.A.

.........................................

MENSAJE DE EUSKADI TA ASKATASUNA AL PUEBLO VASCO

Euskadi Ta Askatasuna ha decidido declarar un alto el fuego permanente a partir del 24 de marzo de 2006.

El objetivo de esta decisión es impulsar un proceso democrático en Euskal Herria para construir un nuevo marco en el que sean reconocidos los derechos que como Pueblo nos corresponden y asegurando de cara al futuro la posibilidad de desarrollo de todas las opciones políticas.

Al final de ese proceso los ciudadanos vascos deben tener la palabra y la decisión sobre su futuro.

Los Estados español y francés deben reconocer los resultados de dicho proceso democrático, sin ningún tipo de limitaciones. La decisión que los ciudadanos vascos adoptemos sobre nuestro futuro deberá ser respetada.

Hacemos un llamamiento a todos los agentes para que actúen con responsabilidad y sean consecuentes ante el paso dado por ETA.

ETA hace un llamamiento a las autoridades de España y Francia para que respondan de manera positiva a esta nueva situación, dejando a un lado la represión.

Finalmente, hacemos un llamamiento a los ciudadanos y ciudadanas vascas para que se impliquen en este proceso y luchen por los derechos que como Pueblo nos corresponden.

ETA muestra su deseo y voluntad de que el proceso abierto llegue hasta el final, y así conseguir una verdadera situación democrática para Euskal Herria, superando el conflicto de largos años y construyendo una paz basada en la justicia.

Nos reafirmamos en el compromiso de seguir dando pasos en el futuro acordes a esa voluntad.

La superación del conflicto, aquí y ahora, es posible. Ese es el deseo y la voluntad de ETA.

Euskal Herrian, 2006ko martxoan

Euskadi Ta Askatasuna

E.T.A.

You remembered that, hmm.....

I think what's important here is that the Zapatero's efforts to recognize the validity of the concerns that ETA capitalizes on while condemning violence won out, while Aznar's years of hard repression (banning newspapers, torturing the editors, Jesus Christ.) did not end ETA.  There's a lesson here.

If you are serious about peace you have to be willing to recognize seperate the sympathizers from the pathological core, and recognize that in democracies sometimes people disagree ferociously , but that doesn't give you the right to make their opinion illegal.

And I'll give my consent to any government that does not deny a man a living wage-Billy Bragg

You remembered that, hmm.....

I think what's important here is that the Zapatero's efforts to recognize the validity of the concerns that ETA capitalizes on while condemning violence won out, while Aznar's years of hard repression (banning newspapers, torturing the editors, Jesus Christ.) did not end ETA.  There's a lesson here.

If you are serious about peace you have to be willing to recognize seperate the sympathizers from the pathological core, and recognize that in democracies sometimes people disagree ferociously , but that doesn't give you the right to make their opinion illegal.

And I'll give my consent to any government that does not deny a man a living wage-Billy Bragg