If South Sudan citizens finally vote for independence, the Spanish Government will respect it and recognise their independence. However, the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trinidad Jiménez, announced that Spain would not review its stance on Kosovo. The Balkan country declared its independence from Serbia in 2008 but Spain is one of the 5 EU Member States that still refuses to recognise it.
The new Secretary of the Government was the party’s CFO and one of Artur Mas’ most trusted collaborators. As his duties were internal, Gordó was not a well-known figure. However, his role in the party was essential, as it will in the new Government. Gordó will remain somewhat in the shadows, as his new responsibility is to ensure the Government’s functionality. He will be in charge of preparing Government meetings and ensuring that decisions are implemented. He will also directly manage some concrete services, such as the Government’s offices across Catalonia and abroad.
Consuls from all over the world and representatives of international organisations attended the swearing-in ceremony, in which Artur Mas took office. All of them stressed the “good relations” between their countries and Catalonia, which they believe will not change.
Barcelona resident Alfredo Zucchi wins first place for his story 'Milena è una bomba' in the ‘Sea of Words’ contest, organised by the European Institute for the Mediterranean (IEMed) and the Anna Lindh Foundation.
In an interview with ACN, Ahmad Masa’deh affirms that the UfM should work aside the Middle East political conflict and focus on economic and social projects. The Euro-Mediterranean Summit has been postponed twice this year and most of the Member State experts have not yet been sent to the UfM headquarters.
The organisation’s headquarters in Barcelona are half-empty with only 25 people currently working. The Arab-Israeli conflict is stopping the UfM's set up and the start of projects. The Secretary General of the UfM states that the organisation's work should focus on technical projects in economic and social areas, aside from politics.
The 3-week course designed for Iraqi penitentiary workers ended today. The course aimed to strengthen democracy within Iraqi prisons and included visits to prisons in Barcelona.
The restaurants ‘B44’ of San Francisco and ‘Casa Mono’ of New York were recognised for the strong presence of Catalan wine on their menus.
This morning Catalan Minister for Health Marina Geli made a cooperation agreement with Gambian Minister for Health Aboubakarr Gaye.
Amnesty International has released information suggesting that over 114,000 families from the Spanish state still have no solution to the disappearance of their loved ones as a result of the Spanish Civil War and the Franco regime. They have asked the Government to take responsibility on this “gross violation of human rights”.
The Economist criticizes the decision of the Catalan Parliament to ban bullfighting and states that the country has a ?spam of intolerance?.
Prestigious newspapers such as The Times and Le Figaro published the story in their front-page and argued that the decision widens the gap between Spain and Catalonia.
The pianist founded the world-prestigious International Music Competition Maria Canals for piano interpreters. She died this morning at 96 years old in her house in Barcelona.
Despite the International Court of Justice's decision, the Spanish Government decided not to recognise Kosovo as an independent state. Both the Spanish Government and Catalan nationalists see implicit parallelisms in both cases, although Madrid denies it.
'Come & See', or the International Stage Arts Market, is a showcase of Catalan theatre and dance for professionals of the international theatre scene. Some of the most internationally recognised Catalan performers participate.