Catalonia Today, October 26, 2006 | Catalonia needs its own foreign office

Catalonia needs a foreign office to promote its image as a country on an international level, and to ensure success when European policies are planned and coordinated. Under Jordi Pujol's long presidency in the Generalitat and, to a lesser extent, during the problematic mandate of Pasqual Maragall, Catalonia has skillfully managed to make up for its scarce institutional resources at an international level. It is no easy task for a stateless nation to present itself on the international stage. That’s why the Catalan government should create a ministry of foreign and overseas affairs, under the management of the presidency, or the first minister, should one exist. Notwithstanding the political affiliations of the actual government, the country's institutions must be given powerful promotion mechanisms. This has obviously occurred to all of Catalonia’s political parties, as ERC, CiU and ICV-EUiA all include the creation of such a ministry in their programs, while the PSC simply makes reference to it, while stopping short of deeming it necessary. And the PP obviously don't want to hear anything about such an idea.

(Article de Saül Gordillo al setmanari Catalonia Today, 26 d'octubre de 2006, pàgina 3.)