Today's first meeting between Catalan and Spanish governments was an "honest and frank discussion." This was how Catalan president Quim Torra characterised the encounter immediately afterwards, while nevertheless asserting that subsequent meetings, which will be monthly, must get into specifics. He affirmed that the Catalan side would not get up from the table, but said that "the coming meetings must delve deeper into democratic solutions." In that regard, he regretted that he was still "without a clear answer" from the Spanish side on self-determination, an amnesty, and the international mediator demanded by the Catalan president.
From the main press room of the Moncloa palace, president Torra stated that the three hours spent together today were "an honest and frank debate on both sides", in which they were able to express "views and positions" openly and freely. This did not cover up the fact that the differences between the two delegations on the resolution of the conflict are very great. "We don't know the answer yet," lamented the president of Catalonia.
In particular, Torra noted "the distance between the two parties, both in the origin and the nature of the conflict, and in the ways of resolving it". The Catalan side had affirmed the existence of "great consensuses" in Catalan society, which he said were the broad support for the right to Catalan self-determination and for an amnesty for the political prisoners. However, he said, "we continue to have no clear answer about self-determination and amnesty." He reiterated that the Catalan delegation should be made up of people who were now prisoners and exiles.
Torra was similarly disappointed with the lack of a Spanish response to his request for an international mediator, which the Barcelona delegation had placed on the dialogue table, and which Torra considers "would help to clarify" and avoid "distortions in the debate".
"We will not get up from the table. We believe in dialogue, but it must be honest and clear," said Torra from the Moncloa press room. "The coming meetings need to delve deeper into democratic solutions." He avoided discussing the 44 points given by Sánchez to Torra at the dialogue table, because "they already have other channels." The two sides did, however, agree to launch the bilateral commission - where Torra believes some of the 44 points should be discussed.