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Blair 'to help Basque peace plan' Spain thanks UK for advice on Eta
(about 6 hours later)
Spanish leaders are expected to use a visit by British Prime Minister Tony Blair to help boost the peace process in the Basque country. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has thanked British leader Tony Blair for his guidance on the peace process in the Basque region.
Madrid hopes to draw on Mr Blair's experience in brokering an uneasy peace in Northern Ireland, analysts say. Mr Zapatero said Mr Blair had given him advice based on his experience in the peace process in Northern Ireland.
In March, Basque separatist group Eta announced a permanent ceasefire after nearly 40 years of violence. Mr Blair said ending conflict was a "difficult and complicated process".
But Eta said last month it would not relinquish weapons until the region achieved independence from Spain. Spain's government has been attacked by the opposition Popular Party (PP) for offering talks with Basque separatists Eta, who declared a ceasefire in March.
The Socialist government of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has indicated that it is ready to talk to Eta, while ruling out Basque independence. Correspondents say that Mr Zapatero's very public display of gratitude will be seen in Spain as a rebuke to the PP for withholding support from the talks.
The issue is expected to top the agenda during Mr Blair's two-day visit to Spain. Despite the announcement of a permanent ceasefire, Eta said last month that it would not give up its weapons until it was independent of Spain.
Mr Zapatero's government has said it will hold talks with Eta but has ruled out granting the Basques in north-western Spain full independence.
'Patient determination'
After talks in Madrid, Mr Zapatero said he wanted to thank Mr Blair "publicly for his government's support to our government in this difficult process".
"We have been talking about the peace process in the Basque country and I have heard a lot about the peace process in Northern Ireland," Mr Zapatero said.
Mr Blair said "patient determination" was vital for the peace process to succeed.
"There will be ups and downs on the way," he said.
The two men are also said to have discussed tackling illegal immigration into Europe.
The British leader has been credited with helping set up a power-sharing government in Northern Ireland.
The Irish Republican Army announced in 2005 that it had put its weapons "beyond use".
More than 800 people have been killed since Eta took up arms in 1968.More than 800 people have been killed since Eta took up arms in 1968.