The Catalan party asks Spain to recognize Kosovo

The Catalan party Junts, led by Carles Puigdemont, has addressed the Parliament of Spain with a request for the recognition of Kosovo's independence.

Spain is one of five European Union countries - along with Cyprus, Greece, Slovakia and Romania - that do not recognize Kosovo's citizenship, announced in February 2008.

In the Junts party's letter, the decision of the International Court of Justice is mentioned, which in 2010 declared that the declaration of Kosovo's independence is not contrary to international law.

The recognition of Kosovo by more than 100 countries is also mentioned.

"The Spanish refusal to recognize a state that exercised its legitimate right to self-determination is an obstacle to the European policy of integrating the Western Balkans into the European Union. And this rejection is a destabilizing factor in this area, in a context marked by the war in Ukraine, which this part of Europe experiences with particular anxiety," the proposal states.

"In this sense, it is not acceptable for the Spanish state to share the same strategy as Russia, China or Belarus, by refusing to recognize Kosovo."

Spain told Radio Free Europe on May 28 that it has not changed its position on Kosovo's citizenship.

After the official recognition of the Palestinian state, Spain told REL that the situation in Kosovo is completely different.

The main reason for the non-recognition of the state of Kosovo by Spain is believed to be related to the Spanish attitude towards the aspirations of its northeastern region, Catalonia, to become independent.

This region has had several unsuccessful attempts to separate from Spain, while official Madrid has strongly opposed this move.

"The situation in Palestine is different. The recognition of the State of Palestine does not affect the territorial integrity of Israel, since that territory has never been legally part of the State of Israel", said Elena Aljarilla Cortezon, media adviser at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain, in a response to REL.

In the Junts party letter, it is emphasized that the recognition of Kosovo by the five non-recognizing EU countries enables it to progress in the integration process.

The issue of recognition of Kosovo by Spain was discussed at the meeting of EU Foreign Ministers on May 27 in Brussels.

Some sources have told Radio Free Europe that at this point there was an open dispute between the parties from Germany and Spain.

While Germany was "very convincing" for the recognition of Kosovo, "Spain was on the defensive, arguing that Kosovo was not on the agenda"

In January of this year, Spain recognized the passports of Kosovo, after citizens started traveling without visas in the Schengen area./ REL