Spanish gov't insists end of ETA not end to damage caused

MADRID, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said Friday that the disappearance of the Basque separatist group ETA will not mean an end to the pain the group's actions caused.

Speaking from his residence at the Palacio de la Moncloa, Rajoy insisted the "damage ETA caused will not disappear, nor will the debt of gratitude we have with the victims of terrorism. Democracies respond to crimes with justice."

The Spanish prime minister said the day was not for celebrating, but for paying homage to those who lost their lives, or who were injured, kidnapped or threatened by the group.

"This is not a day for us to lower our guard as we have to ensure that none of what happened can happen again," said Rajoy, who also thanked the Spanish people for their "perseverance" and "faith in democracy".

ETA formally announced its dissolution in a letter published on Thursday after a campaign for the independence of the Basque region in the north of Spain and the southwest of France, which cost over 820 lives between 1968 and 2010.

The French town of Cambo-Les-Bains on Friday saw an event which was attended by South African lawyer Brian Currin, who represented the International Contact Group that worked to bring about the end of ETA, and peace negotiator Jonathan Powell.

This event, which was held just over the border from Spain, saw the participants asking for "reconciliation" from all sides in the wake of ETA's disappearance.

One of the main issues to now be resolved following ETA's disappearance is what should happen to the hundreds of former members who remain in prisons throughout Spain.

Rajoy's People's Party and victims' associations are in favor of prisoners remaining where they are, while the Socialist Party (PSOE) whose members suffered dozens of attacks by ETA, and Basque nationalist parties are in favor of moving the prisoners to jails either in or close to the Basque region. Enditem