More tension between Spain and Venezuela over ETA

Nov 5, 2010, 16:18 GMT

Madrid - Tension mounted again Friday between Spain and Venezuela over allegations that the Latin American country was protecting members of the militant Basque separatist group ETA.

Spain was 'profoundly ill at ease' over a statement issued by the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry on Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba said.

In the statement, Caracas accused Madrid of unfairly blaming Venezuela for its problems with ETA.

In a 'show of political cowardliness,' Spain was trying to 'justify its failure' in the fight against ETA by accusing Venezuela, which had nothing to do with the Basque quest for independence, the communique said.

Spanish ministers had made 'ambiguous' comments on the subject, while Spain's 'sensationalist press' was waging a 'violent campaign of psychological terrorism' against Venezuela, the Foreign Ministry claimed.

Rubalcaba described the statement as 'unacceptable and unjustifiable,' explaining that Foreign Minister Trinidad Jimenez had passed that message on to the Venezuelan ambassador.

Madrid would nevertheless continue trying to improve anti- terrorism cooperation with Caracas, Rubalcaba said.

Spain is seeking the extradition from Venezuela of a suspected ETA representative whom National Court judge Eloy Velasco suspects of cooperating with the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) in Venezuela.

Caracas has refused to hand over Spanish-born Arturo Cubillas, who works as a senior official at the Venezuelan Agriculture Ministry.

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