1st LD-Writethru: Basque separatist group ETA confirms dissolution

MADRID, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Basque separatist group ETA on Wednesday confirmed the dissolution of all its structures through a letter sent to several Basque institutions and political leaders, local media reported.

The group, which carried out an armed struggle for the independence of the Basque region and the southwest corner of France, announced last week they would officially be dissolved at the beginning of May.

ETA assured in the letter they "completely dissolve all its structures" and "stop its political initiative".

They said this is the end of a process that started in 2010 that aims at "opening a new political era" and puts an end to 60 years of ETA's history.

They acknowledged the suffering their fight had caused, saying "ETA recognizes the suffering caused as a consequence of its struggle," but stressed that "Euskal Herria has the opportunity to definitely end the conflict and build a future together."

The Spanish government said last week that ETA's dissolution changed nothing in regard to Spain's policy towards the group.

Spanish Minister of Interior Juan Ignacio Zoido said "ETA are not going to achieve anything with the declaration of their dissolution."

He added that the government would "continue to defend what really happened and preserve the memories, dignity and justice of the victims of terrorism."

In 2010, ETA announced the end of its armed struggle and in April 2017 they handed over their weapons in a ceremony held in the French city of Bayonne.

It was born in 1959 under the dictatorship of Spanish General Francisco Franco. During its armed struggle for independence it killed over 820 people. Enditem