Madrid - Spanish government officials are studying ways of finding a legal formula to try to prevent the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) from holding a meeting in the Basque capital, Vitoria, writes Jane Walker. The nationalist majority in the Basque parliament, including HB, the political front for ETA, voted in favour of inviting the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) "government in exile" to Vitoria next July for a meeting.
Mr Gun Gur, the Turkish Ambassador in Madrid, described the news as "deplorable".
At least four ministers and many Basque business leaders have expressed their concern at the decision. The Foreign Minister, Mr Abel Matutes, said that relations between Spain and Turkey could suffer seriously if such a meeting was allowed to go ahead. He added that visas could be refused to members of PKK trying to enter Spain for the meeting.
The Economy Minister, Mr Rodrigo Rato, warned that commercial contracts as well as hundreds of jobs could be affected. He drew a parallel between PKK and the Basque terrorist movement ETA. "How would Spain react," he asked, "if Basque terrorist groups were welcomed in Turkey?"