05/11/2008
Basque Government's Deputy Prime Minister Idoia Zenarruzabeitia said on Sunday the Spanish PM José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero "wants to cheat on the Basques" as he is not in favour of dialogue as he says to be.
In a press conference in the offices of the Basque Government in Bilbao, Zenarruzabeitia said behind his "talking smile", Zapatero hides his truly willingness: the rejection, the emphatic no, slamming the door once more".
The Basque Deputy PM also criticized the Spanish Government's rejection to Ibarretxe's proposal for an agreement on the political future of the Basque Country.
Ibarretxe is meeting Zapatero this month but several prominent Socialist politicians have already rejected Ibarretxe's proposal.
Ibarretxe plans a referendum on the region's future. The referendum, which might take place Oct. 25, 2008, would be based on two principles: rejection of violence by the armed Basque group ETA and what he called the right of the Basque people to choose their future.
If approved, the referendum would issue a mandate for the government to undertake new peace talks with ETA. Ibarretxe would seek support from Madrid for holding the vote, but go ahead with it no matter what the Spanish government decides.
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