Basques express satisfaction, relief as ETA gives up arms

Record ID: 559771

  • Title: Basques express satisfaction, relief as ETA gives up arms
  • Date: 7th April 2017
  • Summary: BILBAO, SPAIN (APRIL 7, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF BILBAO LANDSCAPE TRAFFIC SCENES BRONZE STATUE "SACRED HEART" (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BILBAO RESIDENT MIKEL, SAYING: "I really support the disarmament. I'm a sympathiser, not with ETA but with some of the political ideas. It is time to recognise that this town deserves peace. They should stop thinking about the past because that is behind us." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BILBAO RESIDENT ANTONIO, SAYING: "In my opinion certain conditions and guarantees have to be granted. They should negotiate in some aspects that are yet not clear. Not only ETA has to hand over the weapons. Many things have to be disarmed, not only weapons." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) UNIDENTIFIED BILBAO RESIDENT, SAYING: "In my opinion,it was about time. All the Basque society feels satisfaction after suffering terrorism for many years. Now this is what has to happen and I´m very happy that they have reached an agreement. I hope that everything goes well." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BILBAO RESIDENT LAURA, SAYING: "I think it is very good. I'm from Bayonne. It is better this way. I hope there are no problems." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BILBAO RESIDENT ASIER, SAYING: "Perfect. Wonderful. I would have hoped that it was earlier. I'm delighted. I have not much to say." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING IN STREETS VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM BILBAO LANDSCAPE
  • Embargoed: 21st April 2017 09:58
  • Keywords: ETA Disarmament Basque Separatist Bilbao traffic statue residents reaction guggenheim
  • Location: BILBAO, SPAIN
  • City: BILBAO, SPAIN
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016BEHIYV
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Basque militant separatist group ETA, which waged a bloody campaign for independence from Spain for over half a century, said early on Friday (April 7) it had disarmed.
    The BBC cited what it said was a letter from ETA declaring it had handed all its arms and explosives to civilian go-betweens and was now a disarmed organisation.
    Bilbao residents reacted to the news with excitement, although some said that full negotiations should take place.
    The move stops short of a full disbanding of the organisation that has killed more than 850 people in its quest for an independent state in the mountainous Basque region that incorporates part of northern Spain and south-western France.
    ETA declared a ceasefire in 2011, but did not disarm. The group, formed in 1959 during the dictatorship of Francisco Franco, has been severely weakened in recent years after authorities arrested hundreds of its members and seized several of its weapons stashes.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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