Catalan Ministry for Foreign Affairs proves Catalonia’s “unequivocal will to become a state”
CNA
Barcelona (CNA).- The Catalan Minister for Foreign
Affairs Raül Romeva described the recently created Catalan Ministry for
Foreign Affairs, Institutional Relations and Transparency as Catalonia’s
“first structure of state” and assured that it proves Catalonia’s
“unequivocal will to become a state”. The pro-independence cross-party
list ‘Junts Pel Sí’ top member and former MEP aims to “increase
Catalonia’s visibility as a global actor” and “break the silence” which
the EU institutions have kept in relation to Catalonia’s political
process and the Spanish government’s refusal to hold a referendum. “Our
action must be regarded as an investment, rather than a cost” he stated,
addressing Spain’s pro-unity parties. During his appearance in
Parliament, Romeva also wanted to stress that “those who defend a new
state reached the majority in this chamber in the 27-S elections”.
“We want to build trust, we want to gain trust here and everywhere,
keeping and enhancing Catalonia’s prestige” he stated and assured that
the Ministry will put “all their efforts into explaining our case,
because we want to be transparent but reliable too”.
Breaking “the EU’s silence”
“The EU has treated in a perplexed manner and, perhaps too silently,
the Spanish institutions’ refusal to hold a democratic dialogue with
Catalonia” said Romeva. “The deterioration in the quality of democracy
in the Spanish State and its poor separation of powers is, or should be,
one of the European institutions’ major concerns. The time has come to
break this silence” he stated. Thus, Romeva wanted to emphasise that the
Catalan government “will keep a strong presence in Brussels” as the
relationships with the EU “are crucial”, considering that Europe is the
“natural space” for Catalonia”.
Romeva assured that the EU and the cooperation with its institutions
will be a priority in the upcoming 17 months, which is the planned
duration of the new Catalan government. He also called for “multilateral
action” and outlined the new Catalan Ministry’s aim to be represented
in the UN, UNESCO and the Council of Europe.
Persisting in dialoguing with Spain
The new Catalan Minister for Foreign Affairs also assured before the
Parliament that the will to dialogue with the Spanish government “will
persist”. However, he admitted not being very optimistic regarding
possible changes in the Spanish State’s attitude, which according to him
“despises the democratic decision which the Catalan citizens have
already made”. “Dialogue is the only valid and democratic way to solve
conflicts, as it is the only way which respects the intrinsic value of
plurality” he explained. “Denying dialogue is to deny the possibility of
finding solutions to the problems and head directly to imposition”, he
added.
The significance of the three areas in the Ministry
Romeva also explained why the new Catalan Ministry groups together
three areas; Foreign Affairs, Institutional Relations and Transparency.
“We will set the basis of how a state can be at the service of its
people” he explained. Foreign Affairs focuses on how Catalonia relates
to the world, Institutional Relations will set up the government’s
interaction with the other institutional actors and Transparency focuses
on the new relationship between the citizens and the institutions which
represent them. “We aim to be innovative three times: in Catalonia’s
relationship with the world, in the government’s relationship with the
institutions and between the institutions and the citizens” he
concluded.
keeping and enhancing Catalonia’s prestige” he stated and assured that
the Ministry will put “all their efforts into explaining our case,
because we want to be transparent but reliable too”.
Breaking “the EU’s silence”
“The EU has treated in a perplexed manner and, perhaps too silently,
the Spanish institutions’ refusal to hold a democratic dialogue with
Catalonia” said Romeva. “The deterioration in the quality of democracy
in the Spanish State and its poor separation of powers is, or should be,
one of the European institutions’ major concerns. The time has come to
break this silence” he stated. Thus, Romeva wanted to emphasise that the
Catalan government “will keep a strong presence in Brussels” as the
relationships with the EU “are crucial”, considering that Europe is the
“natural space” for Catalonia”.
Romeva assured that the EU and the cooperation with its institutions
will be a priority in the upcoming 17 months, which is the planned
duration of the new Catalan government. He also called for “multilateral
action” and outlined the new Catalan Ministry’s aim to be represented
in the UN, UNESCO and the Council of Europe.
Persisting in dialoguing with Spain
The new Catalan Minister for Foreign Affairs also assured before the
Parliament that the will to dialogue with the Spanish government “will
persist”. However, he admitted not being very optimistic regarding
possible changes in the Spanish State’s attitude, which according to him
“despises the democratic decision which the Catalan citizens have
already made”. “Dialogue is the only valid and democratic way to solve
conflicts, as it is the only way which respects the intrinsic value of
plurality” he explained. “Denying dialogue is to deny the possibility of
finding solutions to the problems and head directly to imposition”, he
added.
The significance of the three areas in the Ministry
Romeva also explained why the new Catalan Ministry groups together
three areas; Foreign Affairs, Institutional Relations and Transparency.
“We will set the basis of how a state can be at the service of its
people” he explained. Foreign Affairs focuses on how Catalonia relates
to the world, Institutional Relations will set up the government’s
interaction with the other institutional actors and Transparency focuses
on the new relationship between the citizens and the institutions which
represent them. “We aim to be innovative three times: in Catalonia’s
relationship with the world, in the government’s relationship with the
institutions and between the institutions and the citizens” he
concluded.
Catalan Ministrer for Foreign Affairs, Raül Romeva, during his appearance before the Parliament (by ACN)
