1982-2014: The Soviets Did Not Save Galtieri, The Russians Will Not Save Rajoy

The decision by Spain's Rajoy administration to facilitate Russian naval operations in the Mediterranean and Atlantic by providing logistical support to the Russian Navy at Ceuta (right in front of Gibraltar) has shocked some, in particular given the mounting crisis between NATO and Russia. Furthermore, coming from a party founded by leading figures of the Franco regime, it may seem even more odd. After all the Spanish Government keeps paying public homage regularly to the Nazi Wermacht, while Russia is extremely sensitive to any attempt to revise her narrative of the Great Patriotic War (Second World War).

However, a look at history shows that it is not so unusual for Fascist, or neo-Fascist, regimes to have strange bed fellows when trying to confront British democracy. In 1982, following the Argentine invasion of the Falklands, the Junta received military aid from the Soviet Union, including satellite intelligence. This was despite Buenos Aires being considered to be a bastion of anti-communism. This was so much the case, that cooperation with Washington in Central America was one of the reasons why the Junta made the mistake of thinking that America would come on her side after the landings. When, despite General Haig's shuttle diplomacy and official neutrality, Washington came squarely in favor of Great Britain, providing key logistical support and some essential equipment like the air-to-air Stinger missile, those fantasies quickly gave way to a desperate attempt to get support from any quarter. Ideology was quickly tossed aside in the name of real politik.

Something similar may be happening in Spain. Rajoy, who like Galtieri and his successors, has never renounced to use force to conquer what he believes is his property, namely Gibraltar, regardless of the wishes of the Rock's inhabitants, and who has the same approach towards Catalonia, was confident to secure American support. However, after US President Obama failed to speak out against Catalan independence at a joint meeting with the media present, and some White House high officials went as far as publicly suggesting that at the end of the day it was up to the Catalans to determine their future status, Rajoy may have concluded, just like Galtieri, that his only hope lied elsewhere. Prime Minister Cameron's public warning not to use force against Catalonia, and the people of Gibraltar's resolve to remain loyal citizens of Her Majesty the Queen, can only have reinforced Rajoy's feeling that the West could not be relied on when it came to crushing a people's will by force.

When we take all this into consideration, what may seem at first surprising, ceases to seem so. There is nothing strange with two semi-democratic regimes cooperating in the naval sphere. What would be strange would be to see a neo-Fascist like Rajoy work side by side with democracies like the US and the UK. Birds of the same feather … 

The coming months will be harsh, for both Gibraltar and Catalonia, and we can expect growing tensions and even more incidents. However, there is nothing stronger than a heart where the flame of freedom burns, and it is no coincidence that the English and the Catalan Parliaments were the first in the world. Soviet help did not save Galtieri, and Russian assistance will not save Rajoy. Democracy will win in the Western Mediterranean, just like it triumphed in the South Atlantic.

Alex Calvo is an expert on security and defence in Asia

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Spain's largest pharmaceutical company, Grifols, backs Catalan independence for Catalonia

The Spain's largest pharmaceutical company, Grifols, became one of the first executives of a major corporation to back a Catalan leader seeking a referendum on independence for Catalonia.

The head of Barcelona-based Grifols, Victor Grifols, held up his company's history - growing from a small, family-owned business into the world's third-largest maker of blood plasma products - as an example for Artur Mas.

Grifols was founded in 1940 Josep Grifols Roig, a hematologist  and scientist. He was the first researcher to publish the plasmapheresis procedure in 1951. The company introduced its liquid IVIG product into the European market in the mid-1990s. In 2003 the company acquired certain assets of the LA -based Alpha Therapeutic as the basis of its American expansion.

On 2011, a year after announcing the $4 billion deal, Grifols completed a takeover of Talecris Biotherapeutics, headquartered in North Carolina. Grifols acquired the blood transfusion diagnostics unit from Novartis in 2013 as a "platform for global expansion".




During a speech at the inauguration of a plant outside Barcelona, on Tuesday, Chairman Victor Grifols turned to Catalonia's president Artur Mas, who was attending the opening.

"A company that is determined must not question that determination," Grifols said. "I know you're having a rough time, but if you are determined, keep pushing forward and don't back down."

Besides Grifols, Barcelona is home to some of Spain's biggest companies, including its third-biggest bank, Caixabank and smaller peer Sabadell, the global infrastructure company Abertis and the utility Gas Natural.



Sources:
About Grifols
Reuters article

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Respectable States?

Many leaders of countries that do harm to their own citizens and to other people are pledging false tears over the death of a true great man: Nelson Mandela. Those countries may belong to the so called " civilised western world ", they may also be the heads of states that disrespect basic civil rights, as Spain does. Everyting that governments do that harm its citizens is in great contrast to what Nelson Mandela stood for. No head of some states feels ashamed ( that is no news ) to continue doing harm to its own citizens, or to those outside the borders of their states. General De Gaulle told us: " Every State is a blocs of ice, they do not consider good or bad". He himselve took the consequences of a referendum that sad No to him and De Gaulle abdicated. Is a thing like that imaginable today ? Lets take just tree examples: Switserland, The Netherlands and France. Respectable states ? Case one: Switzerland. Some point in the history of Switserland, that tell us the opposite. During the Second World War and before, jews with no money were rejected at the Swiss border and thus ended in exterminationcamps and never got back. Those jews with a lot of money, were free to pass the Swiss border, never to see ther less wealthy family members and friends back. Untill today Switseland is applying this policy: accestance to take residence fot those who bring in a considerable amount of money. It is not strange at all to find persons of boubtful respect and ex-dictators with all they robbed in Switzerland. Until recently good friends of the Swiss state were such fallen dictaters in North Africa , and other dictators before them, whose regimes fell. If you think that Switzerland is a neutral state, you'll find people in diplomacy of other countries, politicians an economists in Switerzeland deneying that. Black money of the governments of many countries is to be found in Swiss banks. The Partido Popular, in governmet in Spain, is having its black money in Swiss banks and it is very difficult to find out exactly the amount and under whose name it is in those banks. Only if the international press takes a serious interest in the case some help can be obtained from Swiss authorities. With the greatest difficulties more and more money is discovered by the Spanish juridical investigaters in Switzerland. this is the way the Swiss state is helping hiding illegaly obtained money from the Partido Populars reigning Government. Is Switzerland a respecful state, helping the corrupt against thir own citizens as in the case of Spain ? Case two: The Netherlands In the Netherlands paying openly respect to Nazism and to Fascism is forbidden. Yet the Dutch state has no problem dealing on equal terms with the spanish government openly promoting the heroism of those who fought with Hitler, Mussolini or with both. The political cofiguration of the Dutch government is the liberal party working with the socialist party. Apart from the state of The Netherlands having close contac with Spain celebrating the virtues of those that fought with Hitler and/or Mussolini, the Liberal party is having close ties with the Partido Popular in an inter-European group of Liberal parties of witch the Partido Popular is a member. The Partido Popular is spending each year two milion tax payers euros on a monument for those who fought with Franco, Hiltler and Mussolini. Today in the monthly magazine of the Guardia Civil, a Spanish police force, those who were killed in Hitlers battles, are given special respect each year. The Netherlands a respectful country helping the Spanish government ? Case three: Germany The German Federal Republic is now more or less the master of Europe, what it decides is of direct consequence for a state as Spain. No state has clean hands.The organisation of an etnic cleanse, the silent evacuation of 100.000 Roma and Sinti from German soil is something different. Some organisations objected to tis program, but in one year the work was done. Yet when France tried to do the same with these minorities, Brussels stopped the French president Hollande, the press was in this case willing to investigate. Until today, Germans who worked for the Nazi state, get a state sension according to their rank during thise days, thus rewarded in some cases by helping Hitler fulfil his work in other cases rewarded to commit actual crimes in his name. in case some one finds out he/she became a hiher rank, he/she has to present the Nazi papers proving this fact and his/ her pension is raised. Germay has invested a huge amount of money in Spain during the time of growing Spanish ecominy and will do everything to get back the losses of this " risc money ", that helped provoke the economical bubble, and the Crisis that is partly a consequence of this economical irresponsible German investment. No econonist can deny that this is utterly unreasonable. Gernany is in more ways putting Spain and Catalonia in very dificult problems that provoque a prolonging of the Crisis in Spain and thus in Catalonia. These examples lead to the following conclusions. The countries, more ore less chosen at random ( exept Switzerland ) do: ---Help the Partido Popular led government in its use of power. This in a direct way against the People of Catalonia. --- in the Swiss case, this country helps the Partido Popular ( in gouvernmentpower ) hiding it's black money. No other European country can do this, as in all European countries this practice is forbidden.
 Jeroen Martijn van Wijk, historian

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Spanish Government will not compensate Catalonia for cancelling its tax on bank deposits

The Spanish Finance Minister, Cristóbal Montoro, announcedthat they will not pay the Catalan Government the money corresponding to the expected revenue for the tax on bank deposits in 2013, which might represent some €800 million. However, Montoro confirmed that in 2014 a Spanish tax on bank deposits will be in place and the money will be split among the Autonomous Communities, thus including Catalonia. On Thursday, the Catalan Finance Minister, Andreu Mas-Colell, considered the Spanish Government’s decision not to compensate them financially for having cancelled Catalonia’s tax for the entire 2013 “very bad news”. On the 18th December 2012, the Catalan Executive approved a tax on banks’ global deposits (not on personal deposits) with a general rate of 0.5% but with many reductions. Such a tax already existed in Andalusia, Extremadura and the Canaries. However, 9 days later the Spanish Government approved its own tax, but at a 0% rate, therefore not collecting any money but cancelling de facto the Autonomous Communities’ tax. When the Spanish Executive approves a tax equivalent to one previously approved by an Autonomous Community, the Spanish measure prevails but Madrid is legally obliged to compensate the affected regional governments. In this case, the Spanish Government compensated the 3 other Autonomous Communities but not Catalonia. The excuse was that the Catalan tax was to  be in place as from the 1st of January 2013 and the Spanish Government approved its own tax on the 27thDecember.

In Barcelona Andreu Mas-Colell criticised the Spanish Government’s decision not to compensate the tax in 2013, since Catalonia loses €800 million (initial calculations were talking about €500 million). However, he was hoping that the decision could be amended in court. The Constitutional Court temporarily suspended the Catalan tax's implementation in May, but a definitive decision is still pending.

In addition, Mas-Colell warned that “it was not clear” how the Spanish Government will compensate Catalonia for this tax in 2014, since the details of Montoro’s fiscal reform have not been announced yet and it will not be adopted in the first months of the year. “It is totally uncertain” he affirmed.

€800 million lost for cancelling the tax and €10-15 million lost for blocking the budget

Mas-Colell also criticised the People’s Party (PP) – which runs the Spanish Government – once again for having blocked the approval of the Catalan Executive’s budget for 2014. According to the Catalan Finance Minister, depending on the final delay, the PP’s decision could represent a loss of €10 million or €15 million, which is the money Catalonia’s Government will not be earning from new taxes, fees and rates that should have been in place on the 1st January 2014.

CNA

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Open letter to the signatories of the Declaration of Barcelona

Dear Messrs. Albert Peters, Erwin Rauhe, Gerhard Esser, Sebastián Trivière-Casanovas, Carlos Wienberg, Andrés Gómez and other signatories (up to 54, according to the media reports),

My name is Thomas Spieker. I am a German citizen of 43 and I live and work in Catalonia. I have done so at times as a self-employed entrepreneur and at others as an amployee. I have for several years also been a columnist for several regional media in the country. Not belonging to any German club or association, I have always wanted to integrate into local society, though never hiding my roots. Today, my sentiment is that of a Catalan of German origin because, like many others, I have also learned to love the country after becoming familiar with it. Catalonia has become my homeland by choice.

Your “Declaration” has surprised me. While studying business in Berlin, my teachers had warned me to walk on eggshells if mixing politics with business. This has in fact been confirmed to me by professional experience. And it seems I'm not the only one who considers this manifesto more deserving of a monument to unwanted interference, rather than winning the sympathy of the Catalans, as otherwise BASF would have not distanced itself the very day after its presentation. You will surely have noticed that the reactions from both politicians and citizens have been from anything between mixed and vehement.

Left-wing Catalan politicians —among others, Joan Tardà of the Republican Left (ERC)— have even accused them of comparing Catalanism with German National-Socialism. This may seem a bit over the top, but nothing less was to be expected after the superficial, loose warning of the “hazard of nationalist fervour, which in the last century brought boundless suffering upon Europe and will bring nothing good to Catalonia.” Because above all, their fingers pointed only at Catalan nationalism. If they had observed the political climate a little closer, they would surely have noticed that Spanish nationalism is much more aggressive. Just imagine what would have happened in Germany if the federal government had compelled by law the regions —the Länder, for example Bavaria—, to expel its own dialect from the schools, to teach thenceforth maths or history exclusively in German neutral? Well, this was precisely the aim of the government in Madrid when his minister of culture, José Ignacio Wert declared to Congress that their intent was to make the children of Catalonia "more Spanish". And even if a tiny minority of Catalans cheer this milestone (as I'm sure there would be people in Bavaria who would applaud if their children were to be educated in German 'neutral'), use this argument to encroach on a responsibility that had been transferred to the Catalan Government over 30 years ago and has until now been a total success, as is multilingualism in Switzerland, for example.

Your statement has offended many people in this country. This is what happens, as a rule, when looking at only one side of the coin. And so it has been with the Madrid correspondent of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Leo Wieland, who never misses an opportunity to deliver blows to the wish for freedom of the Catalans. In the same way the Madrid radical right-wing media have also used the manifesto for their own ends. Even Catalan President Mas has had to intervene with a statement to try to analogise your text, which unfortunately is not considered an analysis, but an attack.

Obviously, nothing is further from my intention than to question your freedom of opinion and legitimate concern for the economic stability of Catalonia. What I question, however, is your lack of objectivity, unequivocally taking sides for one political option, the Spanish Popular Party —which some of you decided to campaign for in the last elections— which in the land in which you live as people and work as entrepreneurs or executives of leading German and European firms, is supported by only a tiny fraction of the population. Or do you think you represent the only international companies with interests in Catalonia? What about the Hyatt hotel chain, which has just invested €200 million Euros in the acquisition of the Agbar Tower, or the Chinese Hutchinson consortium, which intends to turn the port of Barcelona into the biggest semi-automated container terminal in southern Europe with an investment of €420 million, or billionaire Amancio Ortega, the owner of Zara, who has over the past few years bought land and buildings in the Barcelona city centre worth over €500 million? Do you think the managers of these companies have not assessed the implications of the Catalan independence movement?

It is obvious that capital, as well as pursuing profitability, also seeks a stable environment. But if you had worked a little harder on your analysis, you would no doubt have noticed that both stability and growth is precisely what is at the core of the Catalan people's aspiration for independence, a people noted precisely for their entrepreneurial spirit. And in the opinion of world renowned macroeconomics experts, the lack of investment in Catalonia by the Spanish government, which prefers to invest in high-speed rail into the wilderness of Extremadura or in a new, unnecessary ring road around Madrid to buy votes, has harmed the Catalan economy far more than the separation of a union will. Spain has over the last 35 years of democratic rule handled the relationship with Catalonia much like a milkmaid and her cow than between two governments with equal legitimacy. And to all this must be added the cultural and linguistic domination, whose sole purpose is to repress any sign of Catalanness.

I very much regret that your letter has offended prcisely that people of Southern Europe which most resembles the German people. Perhaps one day you may wish to rebuild the bridges you have broken so lightly and decide to promote a new Catalan-German friendship. If you decide to do so, I will be happy to help.

Yours sincerely,
Thomas Spieker

German

Spanish

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Foreign policy roundtable stresses need to work towards international recognition

The Catalan National Assembly, a civic umbrella group working for a referendum in Catalonia, conquered by force of arms by Spain in 1714, held a fourth talk on post-independence foreign policy, within “The Country We Want” series. The two speakers were Liz Castro, American-born, originally from California, who has helped to make Catalonia known to the world, writing a number of books and articles in English. She currently serves as coordinator of online newspaper Vilaweb's English-language edition. Jordi Vazquez, a business graduate, is the editor of Help Catalonia, a private entity devoted to public diplomacy. He has a long curriculum working to inform the world about Catalonia's freedom movement. Over a couple of hours, Vàzquez and Castro discussed how to work to ensure the speedy recognition of independent Catalonia, also going over other issues such as the role of civil society in public diplomacy and how to ensure Catalans abroad are not denied their right to vote.

Liz Castro: Catalonia has powerful cards up her sleeve to negotiate with the EU.

Following the presentation of the two speakers, Liz Castro opened the event, explaining how at first her purpose had been to inform her friends and acquaintances about what was going on in Catalonia. She stressed how the news circuit, often going through Madrid, made it difficult for events in Catalonia to reach international audiences.

She then next referred to Catalonia's economy, equivalent in size to that of Finland, which makes it impossible for Catalonia to be excluded from Europe. Furthermore, the current euroskeptic wave makes it even less likely for the EU to try to exclude Catalonia, a net contributor to Brussel's budget. In addition, the more than 3,500 foreign companies in Catalonia constitute an added powerful voice to defend continued EU membership.

Castro also discussed the intoxications one often finds in the media. As an example, she cited the “Barcelona Declaration”, which at first seemed to have been signed by more than 50 powerful German businessmen allegedly against the coming referendum, but that was quickly disowned by BASF. Also significant were the recent words of Josep Oliu, Bank Sabadell chairman, saying that although he personally did not expect Catalonia to recover independence, it should not be a problem for his bank. The third example was the claim by Jaime Malet, chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Spain, who said that many American enterprises were worried, only to be immediately corrected the following day by US Ambassador to Spain James Costos, who said that no companies were worried about this.

According to Castro, Madrid is not free to do what she wants, due to her huge national debt. The debt is also important because, if Madrid wishes Barcelona to take up a portion, then she must open negotiations with Catalonia. Should Spain fail to recognize Catalonia, then Catalonia would not be bound to re-pay any part of the former's national debt. Castro next discussed the different European institutions and organizations, and the euro, and Catalonia's prospects for continued membership. While noting that it was by no means a foregone conclusion that Catalonia would be excluded from the EU, she stressed how countries like Norway or Switzerland did not belong to the Union and this was no bar to a very high standard of living. She also explained how European law did not provide for German reunification, and this was no obstacle for immediate East-German membership once the two Germanies had reunited. It was then, and it is now, basically a matter of finding political solutions.

Concerning recognition, Castro explained that no state would speak out about Catalonia until a referendum had been held. Then, once Catalans had voted, foreign governments would follow suit. She then proceeded to describe what, for her, were Catalonia's outstanding characteristics. She emphasized the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises, the high degree of solidarity (as clear in the yearly TV3 television fund-raising marathon), and the strength of civil society, which has pushed forward a peaceful independence process. Being a small country can also be an advantage, since they tend to work better than bigger entities.

 

Jordi Vàzquez: 'We must fight to gain recognition by the 193' UN member states

Vàzquez opened his address stressing the importance of Sants, together with Gracia, two of Barcelona's most active districts, and thanking them for their role in promoting the independence movement within Catalonia's capital. He then explained the significance of recognition by other countries, stressing that some states had proclaimed independence yet failed to gain recognition. Northern Cyprus and Abkhazia were among the examples he cited. Thus, “what we must fight for, and this why we set up Help Catalonia, is to gain recognition by the 193” UN member states. According to Vàzquez, “many of us are no longer Spanish”, having mentally broken away from Spain, and therefore now the time has come to declare independence and to get other countries to recognize us as no longer Spaniards. Taking into account all examples of unrecognized states, making Catalonia known around the world is essential. Following the Spanish Civil War, Catalonia disappeared from the maps. Furthermore, Madrid worked hard to ensure that this remained so. It was a “silent war”, a strategy where one tries to silence one's enemy. This is the “silent war” against which Help Catalonia was created. The goal was “to make friends, find allies”, so that “the Catalan Republic is recognized by these friends”. Vàzquez stressed the need for Catalonia to have relations with all countries in the world, no matter what their nature was. Normal countries have embassies everywhere, “Iran, North Korea, everywhere”. Thanks to Help Catalonia, foreign journalists have an alternative view on the table, media outlets like the BBC can now get information direct from Catalonia. They no longer have to exclusively rely on Madrid, Help Catalonia speaks their language, English. Furthermore, Help Catalonia not only communicates in English, it uses the terminology of the international media. As an example, Help Catalonia has succeeded in labelling Spanish nationalists as “unionists”, and acts of political violence against Catalonia as “terrorism”.

Vàzquez explained how Help Catalonia did not emphasize the tax plunder of Catalonia, since this is something that other countries do not care about. Instead, Help Catalonia explains how Spain is trying to prevent Catalans from voting, which is something that no democrat can ignore. It also informs about Spain's wasteful economic policies, using subsidies from the EU to, among others, build huge embassies and trains to nowhere. Help Catalonia also informs the world's defence and security think-tanks about Spain's failure to do her duty as a NATO member, acting like a security consumer and not a security provider.

Now it is the time for Catalan civil society to devote her efforts to public diplomacy, instead of relying on the Catalan Government, Vàzquez stressed. This is necessary for a number of reasons. First, to avoid accusations that the independence movement was government-directed, instead of a grass roots development. Second, because the Catalan Government could be accused of wasting resources if it spent much on diplomacy while being forced to implement cuts in health care and education. Third, in order to bypass the legal limitations under which it labours when acting abroad, which the Spanish regime is trying to tighten even further.

Vàzquez then outlined the origins and the work of Help Catalonia, stressing that it operated in a number of languages, including not only English but also French, German, and Spanish. It is staffed by volunteers, based all over the world. In addition to directly informing about events in Catalonia, Help Catalonia has often assisted media outlets interested in conducting interviews or filming documentaries in Catalonia. Volunteers do not receive any kind of compensation. Help Catalonia has also conducted a number of events, including a guided visit to Catalonia's Parliament, where lawmakers had the chance to explain the mediaeval origins of the institution to a group of foreign journalists. Another guided visit took place last year, on the occasion of Catalonia's 11 September National Day, when a dinner with foreign journalists was held.

Help Catalonia has cooperation agreements with other organizations, like the Catalan Business Circle. Since, “unfortunately some people do not read much,” Help Catalonia also designs infographs and multimedia guides, which are spread in the social media, reaching a lot of people. While Help Catalonia denounces Spanish nationalism, including violent threats and Nazi propaganda, it also seeks to put forward a positive message, welcoming developments like Monarch Airlines' Catalan-language website, and informing about attractive episodes of Catalan history like Pau Casal's UN address. While in the past, many Spanish nationalist deeds went unnoticed in Europe and the wider world, in recent years Catalans have started to systematically denounce policies like government subsidies for the Francisco Franco Foundation, which Madrid funds.

Vàzquez concluded his address stressing that it was other organizations' job to win the referendum, while Help Catalonia's was to contribute to gaining international recognition for the new state.

Who will recognize Catalonia first? Both speakers were asked to give their opinion on who would likely recognize Catalonia first. Castro believes that recently-independent countries like the Baltic Republics could be the first, and that the United States, which favours stability, would follow. Vázquez believes that Scandinavian countries will immediately recognize Catalonia, and that countries opposed to Spain will follow suit. An example is the United Kingdom, which would have easily recognized Catalonia if she had declared independence last summer, while Gibraltar was suffering a blockade. He also explained that Help Catalonia had a number of volunteers in Gibraltar, and that relations between Catalonia and the Rock were excellent. Israel is clearly in favour of Catalonia. Russia is traditionally more reluctant, but Putin seems to be shifting. African countries will probably wait and see what Western powers do, while South American countries and Portugal seem reluctant to date.  

Other Questions. 

One of the attendants asked Jordi Vàzquez whether Help Catalonia sought to engage ordinary citizens abroad. He explained how it very much did so, and how over the years they had received expressions of support from myriad countries. As time goes by, Spanish aggressions increasingly go unchallenged. An example he provided was a Filipino citizen who, on reading about Spain's attempts to stamp out Catalan from schools, wrote to Help Catalonia and sent pictures taken during the colonial period showing how Spanish authorities had imposed their language in the islands by force.

Another question to Vàzquez and Castro concerned the position of countries not mentioned earlier. In his reply, Vàzquez explained how France, which five years ago was rather reluctant toward Catalan independence, had now become neutral or even leaning towards recognition. Contacts with Quebec have helped, as have visits by French journalists to Catalonia.  Castro referred to Canada, explaining that Otawa was clearly in favour of Catalonia's referendum, in accordance with her strong democratic tradition.

A member of the public asked about the role of different Catalan entities and associations in public diplomacy. Vàzquez explained how Help Catalonia cooperated with a number of associations, including Catalan centres in many cities like London. Castro stressed the significance of Catalan centres abroad in helping to adapt one's narrative to each country, stressing those issues that could better connect with local public opinion. This led to the issue of the right to vote of Catalans abroad in the coming referendum, in danger from Madrid's grip over the election system to date. In the past, many Catalans have been de facto deprived of their right to vote, and Vàzquez stressed the need to work hard to ensure this did not happen again.

A question concerned the influence on the United States of a Israeli decision to recognize Catalan independence. Castro explained that Israel's recognition could have a significant impact on the United States, while Vàzquez added that the impact extended to many other countries as well. He also explained that Israel had already treated Catalan Prime Minister Mas as a head of state, and that her ambassador to Spain had visited the Born Cultural Centre and learned about the siege of Barcelona and occupation of Catalonia at the end of the War of Spanish Succession.

 

The roundtable took place at Cotxeres de Sants cultural centre, in Barcelona, at 1900 on the 13^th of February 2014. A video of the event is available on line. 

Alex Calvo is an Asian defence and security expert

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