Special report: ETA declares a permanent ceasefire

    MADRID, March 24 (Xinhua) -- A ceasefire announced by Basque separatist organization ETA came into effect on Friday, winning applause in Spain and throughout Europe.

    The truce, declared on Wednesday, came into force at midnight (2300 GMT), ushering in hopes that ETA might end its decades-long violent campaign for independence for the Basque region of northern Spain and southwest France.

    In its statement, ETA announced a "permanent" end to violence for the first time and called on all sections of Basque society "to act with courage ... moving from words to action."

    The Spanish government on Thursday welcomed the ETA truce pledge, but said it would not hold talks with the separatist organization unless the latter made good its ceasefire promise.

    Speaking for Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Communications Minister Fernando Moraleda said that dialog would only be possible when there was "a definitive and permanent" cessation of violence.

    Jose Blanco, general secretary of the ruling Spanish Socialist Workers Party, told the press in Spain that once the ruling party was convinced that the ceasefire pledge had been made in good faith, the government would seek measures to ensure a permanent end to violence.

    He said the ETA ceasefire announcement was a positive sign, but Spain needed proof that it was part of an irreversible process that would end terrorism in the nation.

    UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan welcomed on Thursday the ETA decision.

    "The secretary-general welcomes the permanent ceasefire declared yesterday by ETA. He urges that this commitment be honored, thus ending the violence which has caused so much suffering over so many years," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters.

    The European Union (EU) leaders, meeting in Brussels for their spring summit, on Thursday welcomed the ETA ceasefire, but stopped short of saying it would consider removing the group from the EU's terrorist blacklist.

    "We regard this as a very positive sign," said Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel, whose country holds the six-months EU rotating presidency.

    Schuessel told reporters that the leaders would discuss the issue and would be briefed by Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero during their two-day summit.

    European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the cease-fire had brought a "moment of hope," and said the EU's executive arm would closely monitor the developments.

    ETA has been fighting for an independent state in northern Spain and southwest France. More than 800 people have died since 1968 in its separatist drive. Enditem