Former PMs Attend Basque Peace Talks

A group of politicians who were involved in Ireland's 'Peace Process' have travelled to Spain to help broker an agreement between the Spanish government and Spanish separatists.

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair (both pictured) and the Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams are among those involved.

This comes at a time when a major development is expected in Spain's peace process. There is speculation that the Basque separatist group ETA may announce moves towards a permanent end to their armed campaign.

Bertie Ahern and Gerry Adams, as well as other prominent players in the Irish peace process, have been involved in efforts to bring the Basque conflict to an end.

The Background

The Basque conflict, also known as the Spain–ETA conflict, is an armed conflict between the Spanish state, France and the Basque National Liberation Movement, a group of social and political Basque organisations, which seek independence from Spain and France.

The movement is built around the armed organization ETA, considered by the European Union and the United States as a terrorist organization, which since 1959 has launched a campaign of attacks against Spanish administrations.

Conflict takes place mostly on Spanish soil, although in a smaller degree it is also present in France, and it's the longest ongoing violent conflict in Western Europe. It has been sometimes referred to as "Europe's longest war".

Tensions about the type of relationship the Basque territories should maintain with the Spanish authorities have existed since the origins of the Spanish state and in many cases have fuelled military confrontation, such as the Carlist Wars and the Spanish

(LB/BMcC)