Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 121: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had any contact with the Spanish Government either directly or at an EU level regarding the recently announced Basque peace initiative by ETA; if he will use his influence to encourage the Spanish Government to seize this initiative for peace in the Basque country [36133/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have regular contact with the Spanish Foreign Minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos, including at Foreign Affairs Council meetings in Brussels. Our bilateral discussions have covered a range of issues relevant to our valued bilateral and historic relationship with Spain, including in the EU context. I would be supportive of measures that could contribute to the permanent ending of violence by ETA.

The assessment of what would be most useful in this context is in the first instance a matter for the Spanish authorities.

I have noted the statements by the Spanish Government and indeed by other political parties and groups in Spain on the latest ETA ceasefire announcements, including their disappointment that the announcements by ETA do not imply a permanent cessation of violence.

I also note that the President of the Basque Government announced last Friday 8 October an initiative for a new series of political consultations among all democratic parties on the search for peace. This is to be welcomed.