Spain will recognise Kosovo if it wants to keep Catalonia

Centre for the Western Balkans Director for Russia, Turkey and Eastern Europe Fredrik Weslau estimates Spain should recognise Kosovo if it wants to preserve Catalonia.

In an interview for the Serbian newspaper “Politika”, Weslau has responded negatively to the journalist's findings that “would really be hypocritical on Madrid's part if he fights separatism in Spain, while supports it elsewhere”, sends the telegram.

The “would not be so, because Catalonia and Kosovo are two completely different cases. Spain is failing to make a substantial difference between them and is showing that it is unable to distinguish between legitimate demands for self-rule for separatism. With this unintentional signaling that Catalonia may have reason to demand independence”, Weslau said.

He said that “Kosovo has been a war, and Kosovo has recognised over 100 states, so there is no logic that Madrid constantly puts Kosovo and Catalonia in a sack, sending a message, without self-awareness, that Barcelona will also have the right to secede “.

Therefore, I think that the rational decision for Spain would be to recognise Kosovo while the Catalonian separatists would let you know that they have no right as Kosovo Albanians seek a state because the situation in Catalon is completely different, and that Madrid has the right to continue in the government there”, Weslaw said.

He also says the Serbian government has no illusion that it will return Kosovo, but wants to use it to get more in negotiations with the European Union.