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No less than four high-ranking members of the Socialist party yesterday were trotted out to give the press their latest impression of the talks with the Basque terror organization Eta. Heading the four was Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, who in a brief appearance stated what the other four directors would also reflect: pessimism over the fact that the talks are apparently ‘bogged down’. ‘Concern’ was also expressed over the increase in street violence in the Basque Country that ‘makes the peace process more difficult’. A similar gesture of unanimity was also expressed by the four over who was to blame if the peace process failed: the Partido Popular, ‘who wanted the talks to fail from the very start’.
Meanwhile, in the Basque Country itself, Arnaldo Otegi, the spokesman for the illegalized Batasuna Party told Radio Euskadi that he had ‘absolutely no intention whatsoever’ to try and seek an end to the current wave of street violence that is sweeping the autonomy.
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A total of 29 people died over last weekend in various road accidents across Spain, and although this represents a drop of eight over the same period last year, the accidents this past few days were as mortal as they were spectacular, with in one car, an iron bar from a publicity panel slicing across an Audi with two young people inside, one of whom died at the scene of the accident, whilst the other was taken to hospital in a serious condition. The worst accident was in Los Betanzos – La Coruña Province - that took place on Sunday morning when two young people died after the car they were in smashed into a house. Neither young man in the car had his seat belt attached, and police discovered that they were driving as 210 Kms/hr when the speed limit was set at 40. One of the two who died was the son of the mayor of Bergondo – also in La Coruña Province.
Esteban Gonzalez Pons, the Conseller for the Territory, yesterday proposed an alteration to the Land Laws that are currently being prepared by the Madrid Government in order to stabilize the division of profits that could generate any requalification of land amongst the affected owners. In this way, the Valencian Government is proposing that the profits generated by the sale of land be divided amongst those who have owned it for twenty-five years or more. According to the Counseller, in this way, it would be possible to do away with speculation and the price rises that homes in Spanish cities undergo. Mr. Gonzalez Pons added: “If the central government is not prepared top do this, then we are prepared to enact a law in this regards for the region.
It was fifty years ago this week that the first Osborne publicity of a bull was placed beside a main road as a method of promoting the Jerez-based Company’s new brandy: Veterano. Created by Manuel Prieto, the first Bull was placed near the N-1 road at Cabanillas de la Sierra. However, Ignacio Osborne, who was President of the company at the time, did not like the design and it had to be altered to what is seen today, which was completed by November. Similarly also altered was the material in which it was sculpted from wood to metal, but it was threatened with disappearance in the 90’s after a law was passed banning advertising for alcohol near roads. By 1998, the Osborne Bull had entered the record books as being named a ‘national treasure’ followixºng a series of very public protests against its removal that ensured its subsequent permanent placement near the main roads of Spain.
The Guardia Civil and the National Police Force have launched a joint operation in Alicante Province aimed at tracking down mafia gangs who stay in apartments that are rented to them. In an operation that first started over six months ago, but only recently has been disclosed, the security forces have built a data base after inspecting the identity papers of all those who are renting apartments or homes in Alicante province , and in particular the Vega Baja and Marina Alta areas. A spokesman for the Guardia Civil also revealed that the operation is being undertaken ‘as much to protect people from these gangs as the owners of the homes that are rented’.
Following many years of preparation and financing, an archaeological expedition has finally got under way a mile off the Alicante coast, where an ancient ship was found some 100 feet below the surface. The craft had a capacity for about 400 tons of cargo that has been preserved in 1,500 clay amphorae as pictured above. It is believed that the cargo had lain undisturbed for over two thousand years except for the visit of the occasional octopus that would pry one of the lids open and use the jar for shelter. Researchers believe that the cargo also probably includes lead, which was used by the Romans for plumbing, which they also mixed with tin to make bronze that was used in everything from plates to jewellery. When word of the find was first spread six years ago, scuba divers raided the site and stole some of the amphorae that forced the Valencian Government to erect a thick metal grating over the site to protect it. The expedition that first started last July, is being headed by Carlos de Juan of the Valencian Government and Franca Cibercchini of Pisa University, and the pair presented their first findings at a press conference in Gandia yesterday.
The Iranian media reported on Monday that President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad had declared that Israel was ‘destined to disappearance and destruction’. During a meeting with other Iranian Ministers, Mr. Ahmedinejad reportedly stated: “The Western Powers created the Zionist regime in order to expand their control over the area. This regime massacres Palestinians every day, but since this regime is against nature, we will soon witness its disappearance and destruction.”
Meanwhile other sources have stated that Iran is apparently grooming a new generation of leaders to take over from Osama Bin Laden. Western intelligence officials have quietly stated that the poor state of health of the terrorist leader has been used by Teheran to promote its own candidates.
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