In an interview given to the Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda this week, Puigdemont, Catalan ex-president in self-imposed exile, has declared that "an independent Catalonia will maintain close and friendly relations with Russia", he also says that the moral authority of the European Union has been destroyed due to the shameful lack of support Catalan nationalists received from the EU, in their pursuit of an independent Catalonia.
https://www.kp.ru/daily/26931/3982091/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/11/17/the-european-parties-accused-of-being-influenced-by-russia/??noredirect=on
Automatic Russian-English translation
1 JAN. 22:15 2019-01-22T14: 50: 35 + 03: 00
The leader of the Catalan separatists, Carles Puigdemont: “Independent Barcelona will also be friends with Moscow”
“KP” was the first of the Russian media to interview the “peaceful rebel” from the Iberian Peninsula. [Exclusive “KP”]
15 months ago he almost became the only one in Western Europe political prisoners. President of the Generalitat (Government) Catalonia Carles Puigdemont was one of the maininstigators referendum October 1, 2017 on the independence of this autonomous region from Of Spain. But official Madrid he did not appreciate such zeal, Puchdemon was accused of “mutiny”, he was forced to flee abroad. AT Germany him for two weeks arrested at the request of the Spanish police - and released , finding no evidence of guilt. Now Pucdemon in thestatus of political émigré lives in Brussels. "Komsomolskaya Pravda" was the first Russian newspaper to talk to a 56-year-old politician, discussing his views on relations with Russia, double standards European Union and referendums 2014 in Crimea and Donbass.
BRUSSELS SHAME
- A number of Western media called the Catalan referendum "the hand of the Kremlin", which he wants to "undermine Europe."
- Of course, it is not. Fake news. There has never been any evidence of this, but there were only blatant statements by a number of Spanish media and conservative politicians (here: supporters of the unity of Spain — approx. Ed.). Notice also that in April 2018, the British Parliament published an expert report, where it rejected the possibility of "the secret influence of Russia on the Catalan crisis." I do not even want to spend time discussing such nonsense.
“In any case, in the end, your independence movement failed.”
- Almost all members of our movement agree that the referendum on self-determination on October 1, 2017 was held - despite the extreme violence from the Spanish police. Independence was proclaimed on October 27 of the same year - but was not embodied due to the repression of Madrid. Now we have political prisoners who are in prisons and political emigrants who, like me, were forced to exile due to false accusations.
- How does the official Brussels, the “capital” of the European Union, react to this? Where are you now?
- In general, nothing. It is a shame and complete destruction of moral authority. The EU, although it continues to teach the whole world "respect for human rights".
FOR DIALOGUE OPEN
- At that 2017 referendum, 177 thousand people spoke out against independence. This is almost 10% of those who voted. How to deal with them?
- Of course, in Catalonia there are a variety of views on how to build relationships with Madrid. I think a referendum on self-determination is an objective way to freely express the opinion of citizens on this matter. According to the latest polls, 80% of Catalans are in favor of such a referendum. So let us allow the people of Catalonia to express their will. This is precisely the way in which civilized nations expect to determine their future in the 21st century. And not through the violence of the Spanish government, which follows a model that brought success 100-200 years ago.
“Well, do you think the Catalan crisis can be peacefully resolved?”
- We will never reject the dialogue, negotiations and referendum as tools to find a permanent political solution to this conflict. In recent years, we have seen how referendums on self-determination were held in Quebec or Scotland (see "Help" KP "- Ed.). Instead of Spanish intransigence, we offer the same flexibility that London regarding Scotland. A referendum should never be a problem.
- Since you are talking about referendums, in 2014 they were held not only in Scotland, but also in the Crimea and Donbas. However, the last two are not recognized by the West.
- People around the world should have the same rights to the recognition of their will by the international community. We, the Catalans, do not invent anything new and only call upon - peacefully and democratically, on the basis of international laws - to realize the right of citizens to self-determination. This concerns the settlement of both the Catalan crisis and the events you are talking about.
NATO - rethink!
- If Barcelona becomes independent, how will it build relations with Moscow?
- We are two European nations with a common history. You know that one of the greatest naval commanders of the 18th century, Josip de Ribas *, was a Catalan? He served on the Black Sea under the command of Empress Catherine the Great (and founded Odessa, whose main street, Deribasovskaya, is named after him - approx. Ed.) The same can be said about the hundreds of Catalan orphans who found refuge in Russia after the Spanish Civil War in the late 1930s ... Your country is one of the most influential on earth, and independent Catalonia will maintain close and friendly relations with it, just like with the whole world.
- In the pro-Russian organization called NATO (this, if anything, irony) also enter?
- Future independent Catalonia must adhere to international obligations that extend to its territory, including membership in NATO (where Spain is from 1982). At the same time, we agree that the role of the North Atlantic Alliance needs to be rethought as a tool to protect democracy and peace, as well as to combat common threats like international terrorism.
* Note . The great historical figure by the name of de Ribas (1751-1800) in various European languages is called differently: Josip, Jose, Jusep ... In the Russian tradition, he is present as Joseph (sometimes Osip) Mikhailovich Deribas.
Help "KP"
In which referendums on independence did the separatists suffer "peaceful defeat"
Quebec, 1995. This province is English-speaking Canada was historically a place of compact residence for the descendants of French settlers in the New World. Those have always complained of inequality and oppression from the majority. But the 1995 plebiscite was peaceful, the supporters of unity won, albeit with a minimum margin - gaining 50.6%.
Scotland, 2014. The British authorities called the four hundred years union Edinburgh and London "the most successful union in history," but "on the ground" was a different opinion. Then instead of throwing tanks into the northern province, England focused on promoting unity through politicians and the media. As a result, the separatists received only 44.7%.
OFFICIALLY
Maria Zakharova , The speaker of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation:
- Our position has not changed and was announced long before the referendum in Catalonia. We consider the situation in Catalonia as an internal affair of Spain. We presume that further developments in this Spanish region will occur in line with the constitution of this country, the current legislation, while respecting democratic norms and human rights (more info)
* * *
ANOTHER OPINION
Vladimir Schweizer , D.Sc. (History), head of the department of social and political studies at the Institute of Europe, RAS:
Our tourists can go there without fear
Catalonia is only one of the 17 autonomies of Spain. Other regions also have claims to Madrid: Andalusia, the Basque Country ... New Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez does, in my opinion, the right thing: it proposes the further federalization of the country. To have more powers in all autonomies, not just Catalonia.
This is one of the reasons why local separatists have moderated ardor. Yes, they can claim that they "received 90% in the referendum," but less than half of the people with the right to vote came to this very vote. In other words, the real ratio of supporters and opponents of secession is rather closer to 50/50.
By the way, a year and a half ago, large businesses reacted badly to the attempt of the Catalans to “sail away” from Madrid: finances began to flow out of autonomy, many international corporations and banks threatened to transfer their offices to more stable regions. The official European Union does not support them either, realizing that otherwise separatist “mines” can be jerked everywhere: Flanders, Corsica, Scotland ...
At the same time, about 20% of the budget of Catalonia is revenue from holiday-makers, residents are interested in tourists coming to them, including from Russia. Unleash armed clashes between supporters and opponents of separatism, in my opinion, no one will. First of all , because the civil war of the 1930s in Spain claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, and the people remember this very well.
REPORTAGE
Catalonia slowed down: instead of independence, a dialogue with Madrid was announced
The dramatic vote in the referendum, the cruel confrontation with the Spanish police - all turned out to be in vain. The provincial authorities decided not to exacerbate the situation. Our special correspondent Daria watched the people's reaction to this. Aslamova ( details ).
SEE ALSO:
https://www.elperiodico.com/es/sociedad/20190122/puigdemont-defiende-relaciones-estrechas-y-amistosas-de-una-catalunya-independiente-con-rusia-7260932
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