Disarmament of ETA: the era of the Basque terrorism comes to an end

• Main Author: A. A. Orlov
• Format: Article
• Language: Russian
• Published: Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) 2017-06-01
• Series: Ибероамериканские тетради
• Subjects: страна басков; испания; франция; эта; национализм; терроризм; разоружение; перемирие; международная комиссия по проверке; «ремесленники мира»; basque country; spain; france; eta; nationalism; terrorism; disarmament; international cross-check commission; «handicraftsmen of the peace»
• Online Access: https://www.iberpapers.org/jour/article/view/172

Basque radical nationalist organization, which used methods of terror and violence for achievement of the political goals consisting in creation of the independent Basque state, has declared its disarmament. Though ETA didn’t declare self-dissolution and intends to continue the activity in new conditions, its disarmament gives the grounds to hope that the era of the Basque nationalist terrorism in Spain proceeding half a century, has come to an end. Process of disarmament of ETA has been organized in the style,inherent for this group, combining elements of political public relations and a theatrical performance. Coordinates of the last eight caches which were in the French territory, where ETA stored weapons and explosives, have been transferred to the French authorities through intermediary volunteers. All political parties of the Basque Country, except for the People’s party ruling in Spain, have signed the manifesto in support of disarmament of ETA. The government of Spain has declared that the disarmament of ETA is a victory of the Spanish democracy and has urged this radical organization to dissolve itself. The future of ETA, however, remains not clear. It is declared «the internal discussion» about further prospects of the group. The vast majority of political forces of Spain of di erent orientation supports self-dissolution of ETA, considering it as an important condition of restoration of the peace and stability in the Basque Country.