Adams, Ahern travel to Spain for Basque peace talks

FORMER TAOISEACH BERTIE Ahern and Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams are among a group of politicians travelling to Spain today with an aim to broker an agreement between Basque separatists and the Spanish government.

According to local media, former British cabinet head Jonathan Powell ia also with the group, most of whom were involved in Ireland’s peace process.

Tony Blair has apologised for not being able to attend the meeting. Former Secretary-General of the UN Kofi Annan will participate in the event.

The international conference, designed to promote a resolution to the Basque conflict, will take place tomorrow afternoon. It will attended by the Basque Citizen Network for Agreement and Consultation, Lokarri, the International Contact Group led by South African lawyer Brian Currin and four other foundations.

According to RTÉ, Ireland’s peace process is the template being used in the Basque discussions.

The conflict, the last of its kind in the EU, has seen more than 1,000 people killed. At the beginning of this year, ETA – a pro-independence terrorist organisation – declared a “permanent ceasefire”.