Sarkozy promises tough stance against ETA

MADRID, April 28 -- Visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy,

speaking at a gala dinner held in his honor at the Royal Palace in Madrid late

Monday, promised a tough stance against Basque separatist group ETA on the

opening day of his first state visit to Spain.

France and Spain share a common border. Although the extreme Basque

terrorist group ETA rarely carries out acts of violence within France, many of

its members use the country as a base to launch attacks in Spain.

ETA activity has diminished in the last 10 years, but Sarkozy promised

there would be no letup in the work to end the threat.

"We will not lower our guard against this curse," he said during his speech

at the dinner, adding that his country would work against all terrorist threats.

"We will act against the hateful face of ETA or Al Qaeda, given that we

have to protect our citizens and give justice to the victims and preserve the

democracies we have the honor of representing."

"In the end, we will win," said Sarkozy, who commented that he felt a

"brotherhood of arms" with Spain.

King Juan Carlos of Spain thanked Sarkozy with "all of his heart."

"The cooperation between the police and the judiciary in Spain and France

and the results of the fight against terrorism are an example," said the King.

Earlier in the day, Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni were welcomed by the

Spanish Royal Family in the Palacio del Pardo in Madrid, before visiting the

Prado art gallery in the city.