Editor’s summary

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero received endorsement from his country’s parliament to open peace talks with ETA, which has killed more than 800 people over the years in its quest for independence of the Basque region. Experts are doubtful that the effort will succeed, but others are hopeful that just the act of sitting down together may bring some positive result.

The fact that ETA is now at its weakest point since its founding in 1959 may be a factor in favor of Zapatero’s effort.

On May 31, the Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported that the Basque political party Batasuna was looking for a chance to talk with French and Spanish leaders.