Catalonia Today, March 23, 2006 | Peace makes anything possible

Eta's announcement of a permanent ceasefire opens the doors to a definitive peace process. The Basques should now be allowed to decide their future in a climate free of the fear of violence. The terrain has been prepared ready ever since the failure of the Ibarretxe sovereignty plan. This gesture by the terrorist organisation allows a process of negotiation that requires all possible caution. Zapatero and Ibarretxe both know that they are facing an historic moment and they will not want to miss the opportunity. Another thing is how this will affect the main opposition party, the PP. It has few options and may be forced to give up its partisan line. The fact that this was made public the day after the Estatut reform text was approved invites political interpretation. In any case, it is only fair to remember two Catalan names. One is Josep-Lluís Carod-Roriva, leader of ERC, who had to leave the Catalan government after it became known that he had a meeting with Eta in Perpinyà. The other is Ernest Lluch, former socialist minister murdered in Barcelona two years ago. Everything is still to do, but everything is also possible.

(Article de Saül Gordillo al setmanari Catalonia Today, 23 de març de 2006, pàgina 3.)