Mar 22

　　The Basque terrorist movement ETA on Wednesday announced a "permanent ceasefire," to go into effect on Friday, after more than 30 years of violence and bloodshed.

　　This is not the first time that ETA has declared a truce, but it is the first time that it has used the word "permanent."

　　Pau Ríos of the Basque peace movement Alkarri described the wording of the communique as "a very important step forward....It is the best we could have hoped for from ETA." He said it would have been unrealistic to expect the group to announce its laying down its arms at this time "But the word 'permanent' is particularly significant as it has very strong connotations in the Basque language," he said.