The Spanish government said on Thursday that it would not hold talks with the Basque separatist rebels of ETA unless the group makes good its ceasefire pledge announced a day earlier.

Speaking for Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Communications Minister Fernando Moraleda said that dialog would only be possible when there is "a definitive and permanent cessation of violence."

The government would follow the legislators' resolution that "unmistakable signs" of an end to violence were a prerequisite to any possible talks, he noted.

Jose Blanco, general secretary of the ruling Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE), told the press in Spain separately that once the ruling party was convinced that the ceasefire announcement was made in good faith, the government would seek measures to ensure a permanent end to violence.

He said the ETA ceasefire announcement was a positive sign, but Spain needs proof that it was part of an irreversible process that would end terrorism in the nation.

The ETA has been fighting for an independent state out of northern Spain and southwestern France. More than 800 people have died since 1968 in its separatist drive. The United States and the European Union have listed it as a terrorist group.

The group announced Wednesday that its ceasefire would start from Friday. The ceasefire pledge was cautiously welcomed across the world.

Prime Minister Zapatero said that the ETA decision needs to be treated with caution and warned that "the peace process will be long and arduous."

(Xinhua News Agency March 24, 2006)