Spanish PM agrees with Basque leader to fight together to stop the violence

Spanish PM agrees with Basque leader to fight together to stop the violence
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By m.p. - Jul 1, 2009 - 4:41 PM

José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero with Patxi López in Moncloa - EFE

Zapatero spoke of two governments with one anti-terrorism policy

The new President of the Basque government has had his first meeting with the Prime Minister since his investiture at the beginning of May, when Patxi López became the first ever Socialist Lehendakari of the Basque government. He is also the Basque Country’s first non-nationalist head of government for three decades.

The two men met in Moncloa Palace this Wednesday, a lengthy meeting which extended for more than two hours and discussed three main subjects: anti-terrorism policy, the economic crisis and the transfer to the Basque Country of responsibility for certain areas. Speaking at a press conference in the gardens of Moncloa, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero said he was proud of the new Lehendakari for his courage, commitment and sense of responsibility. He described Patxi López as representing the ‘best democratic values and a new era for Euskadi’.

Two governments and one anti-terrorism policy’, was how the Prime Minister summed up the consensus reached with his Socialist colleague on anti-terrorism matters. They agreed to work together to stamp out the violence and on supporting the victims of terrorism.

The male ETA terrorist arrested after a traffic accident in France this Tuesday has meanwhile been named as Ibai Mateo Esparza, a 22 year old who has been on the Civil Guard’s list of most wanted terrorists since September 2008. He was a known activist of the pro-ETA left at the Navarra Public University, where he was studying social sciences, until his disappearance around a year ago. He remains in hospital in a serious condition, although there is reported to be no danger to his life.

The woman arrested with him is Oihana Mardaras Orueta, who is said to have confessed to medical services in France that both are members of the Basque terrorist group.

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