Spanish foreign minister, Josep Borrell, was irritated by the meeting Catalan president Quim Torra held with the Barcelona consular corps on Tuesday over the president's defence of Catalonia's right to self-determination. The minister has announced on Twitter today that he's sent documentation supporting the opposite view to consuls and foreign correspondents "so that they're aware of the reality" and said that "Catalonia is not a colony".
"It fundamental to explain the reality of Spain abroad accurately. Yesterday, I met with foreign correspondents to talk about European and international current events (EU-CELAC, NATO, migration) and inevitably also about president Torra's meeting with consuls in Barcelona," he wrote.
Es fundamental explicar la realidad de #España hacia el exterior de forma veraz. Ayer me reuní con corresponsales extranjeros para hablar de actualidad europea e internacional (UE-CELAC, OTAN,migración...) e inevitablemente también de la reunión del Pres.Torra con cónsules en BCN
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) 26 de juliol de 2018
"Torra again explained to the consuls Catalonia's right to self-determination which everyone knows doesn't apply, because Catalonia isn't a colony. We've sent documentation to consuls and foreign correspondents for them to be aware of the reality," he added.
President Quim Torra attacked the Spanish state before the consular corps over the repression of Catalonia and the existence of prisoners and exiles following last year's referendum. The president said that, in Catalonia, "republic is a synonym of liberty" and that the Catalan people "will never renounce" their right to self-determination. He added that he was counting on the consuls met in the government palace in Barcelona to help defend this right.
The Netherlands consul, a known union supporter, left the room at those remarks, whilst the other representatives stayed.
The meeting is normally held at the start of the year, but had to be postponed this year due to the suspension of Catalan self-government.