Ibarretxe Wants Center Stage

You got to love politicians.

They have a keen instinct to make other people's efforts look as if they are their own.

Check this out:

Basque premier claims Basques' active role in the peace process

Basque premier, Juan José Ibarretxe, demanded on Tuesday an active role in any peace process, after the Basque armed group ETA declared a permanent ceasefire last month.

Juan José Ibarretxe said the Basque government and the whole of Basque society should play a part in finding a political solution following ETA's ceasefire announcement.

"I want to make it perfectly clear that the Basque government, and I as leader, are active agents in making sure
that the peace process is irreversible," Mr Ibarretxe told a news conference after meeting the prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.

On his part, Mr Zapatero defended the unity, collaboration and the need to be cautious. Both leaders met for two hours marked by cordiality.

The meeting was part of the prime minister's drive to build a cross-party consensus on negotiations with ETA, which he hopes to begin later this year.

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