Catalan Foreign Minister prepares to visit Edinburgh

Scotland at centre of diplomatic spat as Catalan Foreign Minister prepares to visit Edinburgh


David Leask, Chief Reporter





Scotland is at the centre of diplomatic spat as Catalonia's foreign minister prepares to make an "official" visit to Edinburgh that Spain insists is unauthorised.
Catalan envoy Raul Romeva will fly to Scotland later this month to meet senior SNP figures in what Madrid sees as a clear challenge to its control over international affairs.
Spanish authorities do not recognise Mr Romeva - a veteran campaigner for Catalonia's independence - as his country's foreign minister.

They believe that as an official in what they see as a mere "regional" administration, he should clear any international meetings with them.




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So Mr Romeva's scheduled April 28 visit to Scotland has sparked headlines warning of serious diplomatic consequences for Scotland - especially if the Catalan minister meets his Scottish counterpart, Fiona Hyslop.
In what was seen in Edinbugh as a veiled threat, Madrid daily ABC reported: "The Scottish Government is aware that a meeting between Ms Hyslop and Mr Romeva could provoke discomfort in the Spanish Embassy and a protest to the Foreign office."
The paper, which is close to the caretaker Conservative government of Mariano Rajoy, stressed that Mr Romeva had not informed the Spanish Foreign Ministry about his trip.
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Concern about an official reception for Mr Romeva comes despite the fact that Scottish ministers are too busy fighting for their seats in Holyrood elections to meet foreign dignitaries.
However, senior party figures will meet Mr Romeva, a former MEP with Catalan Greens, Iniciativa per Catalunya Verds
SNP MEP Alyn Smith, pictured below, said: "I would think a meeting with any of our Ministers would be unlikely as we are all busy campaigning for re-election, but I certainly will be meeting Raul as we were good colleagues in the European Parliament for ten years and we have much to talk about.


"If this provokes discomfort in Madrid perhaps our Spanish friends might wish to reflect on the discomfort we felt at the intemperate, ill advised and wrong remarks of their Prime Minster during our referendum."


Spanish unionists - who have blocked a Scottish-style independence referendum in Catalonia - have been openly hostile to the SNP and its government.
The SNP - which, as ABC reported has traditionally been "cautious" about criticising Spain - has become increasingly close to Catalonia's independence movement in recent months.
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