JOHN Swinney, Scotland’s Education and Skills Minister, told his Catalan counterpart in September that he and his colleagues had been watching events “with growing concern” in the independence-seeking Spanish state.
In a letter to Clara Ponsati, who was head of the School of Economics and Finance at the University of St Andrews before becoming Catalonia’s Education Minister, Swinney said the Scottish Government did not have a view on Catalan independence, with it being “a matter for the people of Catalonia, just as Scotland’s future is a matter for the people of Scotland”.
He added: “However we do believe strongly in the right of self-determination as an important international principle which must be respected.”
The Deputy First Minister’s remarks were revealed in correspondence between the two governments released under Freedom of Information legislation. Ponsati had written to Swinney to express her “deep concern following the recent attacks to democracy in Catalonia”.
She wrote: “These attacks are an alarming threat to our shared values of democracy, freedom of expression and respect for diversity. They are at the heart of our European Union … I believe we cannot accept any backward steps with regard to such basic civil rights, which will also be critical to the cohesion of our increasingly diverse societies.”
Swinney replied that while constitutional positions differed in Scotland and Catalonia, 2014 showed that two governments with diametrically opposed views could agree a process that allowed the people to decide.
“It is essential that civil rights and democracy are respected at all times by all nations and I sincerely hope that there can be a dialogue between the Catalan Government and the Spanish Government to ensure a peaceful resolution in the coming days,” he said.
Following the Brexit vote, Catalan Foreign Secretary Raul Romeva wrote to Fiona Hyslop, expressing the Catalans’ “explicit support to the democratically expressed will of the Scottish people”.
The Culture, Tourism and External Affairs Secretary said the Scottish Government welcomed the “strong and unequivocal message sent by the Scottish electorate”, and added: “The Scottish Government intends to raise awareness across Europe about Scotland’s different choice in the referendum and about our aspiration to stay in the European Union.”
Last month, Romeva wrote to Nicola Sturgeon, thanking her for her “message of support and encouragement”.
He also outlined the period when events reached a peak on September 20, as the Madrid government tried to suspend Catalonia’s financial autonomy, and police raided Catalan offices and homes, arresting 14 public officials.
He added: “In the current circumstances, the Catalan Government is now more determined than ever to provide the people of Catalonia with the opportunity to democratically choose their political future.
“Since this situation is very likely to increase in the next days, I kindly ask you to keep your commitment to the defence and promotion of democratic values.”
President Carles Puigdemont wrote to Sturgeon in May 2016, congratulating her on her re-election as “Priomh Mhinistear na h-Alba”, and expressing his wishes to “strengthen our co-operation bonds”.
Sturgeon said she looked forward to continuing to work with Catalonia, “to strengthen our links over the period ahead”.
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