EUSKADI TA ASKATASUNA´S PRESS RELEASE

August, 1999

As stated in June, we held a meeting with the Spanish government leaving the door open for a second meeting. At this moment we must let the Basque society know that our relationship with the Spanish government is broken. The responsibility for this rupture falls on the Spanish government as they have not kept the minimum piece of discreetion required for this contacts. Spite of the image of an ongoing dialogue process and some sort of aperture they have projected through the mass media, the truth is quite different. The have spoiled the basic means available for a dialogue process

They have try to project, through the mass media, the image of an ongoing dialogue process and some sort of aperture; nevertheless, the truth is quite different. In fact, they have spoiled the basic means available for a dialogue process. The first contact held has been used as a toy or as a device for electoral porpoises. The frivolity and foul play displayed by the Spanish government show the lack of maturity to overcome the armed confrontation through dialogue. Its is not the first time the Spanish government uses contacts with ETA to gain time or to achieve police successes. In the last weeks many filtrations and release of misleading information have taken place. The only porpoise of this informative intoxication is to justifying the position currently held by the Spanish government.

Despite all this, ETA wants to express that has the unequivocal determination to overcome the armed confrontation between the Basque Country and Spain. The Foundation for this rests in giving voice to the Basque Country, and in respect to its decisions. In this sense, ETA will seek paths that guaranty direct and reliable communication and will keep on making efforts in this line, as faithfully as we have been done up to now.