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GV King Juan Carlos addressing troops (2 shots)
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CU Juan Carlos speaking
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SV PAN Dignatories and troops listening
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SV ZOOM IN leaders of political-military wing of the ETA speaking
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Initials PM



PART EUROVISION TELERECORDING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: INTRODUCTION: In Spain, the moderate wing of the Basque separatist movement, the ETA, declared an unconditional cease-fire on Saturday (28 February) in order to allow the situation in the country to claim down after last week's abortive coup. The declaration came on the same day as King Juan Carlos appealed to the armed forces to back democracy.

SYNOPSIS: It was the King's first public speech since the abortive coup last week. Addressing officers at he Zaragoza Military Academy, he urged them to respect the constitution, and warned that ill-considered actions do not contribute to the security of the nation. At the same time, he appealed to politicians and journalists not to do anything that might create an atmosphere of unease, annoyance or concern in the armed forces.

The King went on to assure the officers that there would be no witch-hunt in the ranks, and the armed forces as a whole would not be blamed for the actions of a small group. The King had gone to the Academy to retake the oath he had first sworn as a cadet 25 years ago. The officers' oath includes a pledge to uphold the democratic constitution, and the King had tears in his eyes as he went to kiss the Spanish flag at the conclusion of the ceremony.

For several hours on Monday (23 February), it looked as though Spain's brief period of democracy had come to an end as the Parliament was held at gunpoint, but the King's firm intervention in favour of democracy robbed the rebels of any substantial support from the armed forces.

On Saturday (28 February), the political-military faction of the ETA also abruptly reversed its policy by declaring an unconditional cease-fire and releasing the three consuls kidnapped on February the 19th. The "poli-milis", as they are known, made the announcement at a press conference in a secret country hide-out, to which reporters were driven blindfolded. Hooded spokesmen for the organisation said they hoped the military faction of the ETA would follow their example. But their appeal appears to have been ignored, as ETA's military faction has been accused by the police of being responsible for a landmine explosion on Sunday (1 March), which injured three policemen.