Salvadoran diplomat supervises talks between Spain's Socialists and pro-independence Junts
Francisco Galindo Vélez oversees first meeting in Switzerland "in cordial and working atmosphere"
The first meeting between Catalan pro-independence party Junts and Spain's governing Socialists since the latter's leader, Pedro Sánchez, was reelected prime minister, took place in Switzerland on Saturday.
It was overseen by a neutral mediator, Francisco Galindo Vélez, a diplomat from El Salvador, who will analyze the parties' compliance with the agreements they reached in the run-up to Sánchez's investiture debate.
Junts supported the Socialist leader's reelection in return for, among other things, an amnesty for individuals involved in the independence push over the last decade.
Cordial atmosphere
The meeting on Saturday was conducted "in a cordial and working atmosphere" and allowed the parties "to continue to move forward," according to a statement from Junts.
Both parties thanked Galindo Vélez for his willingness to "contribute to achieving a political and negotiated solution to the conflict," Junts said.
Socialist party secretary Santos Cerdán told media at Geneva airport that the meeting "went well," adding that it was "a working meeting."