Sarkozy pledges to stand by Spain in fight against ETA

Apr 28, 2009, 10:41 GMT

Madrid - French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday pledged to spare no effort in helping Spain fight the militant Basque separatist group ETA, saying democracy could not 'give in to terrorists.'

'Every time Spain needs France in the fight against the killers, Spain can count on the French republic,' Sarkozy said in a speech to Spanish parliament.

Parliament president Jose Bono thanked France for its police cooperation, which has led to the arrests of hundreds of ETA suspects on French soil, including three of the group's military leaders over the past five months.

Spain and France were due to sign agreements to reinforce cooperation against terrorism and organized crime on Tuesday, as Sarkozy was concluding his two-day state visit to Spain.

The French president also gave his backing to Spain's aspirations to join the Group of 20 (G20). Spain attended two recent G20 meetings despite not being a member.

Earlier on Tuesday, Sarkozy laid a wreath on a monument paying tribute to Madrid residents who staged an uprising against Napoleon's occupying troops on May 2, 1808.