Catalonia call for independence is illegitimate -UN Chief

UN chief says Catalonia call for independence from Spain is illegitimate

Catalonia’s push for independence from Spain is illegitimate, as the region has not been recognized by the United Nations as a non-autonomous territory, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told Spanish media. 


“When one speaks of self-determination, certain areas have been recognized by the United Nations as non-autonomous territories. But Catalonia does not fall into this category,” Ban said in an interview with Spanish newspapers El Pais, El Mundo, ABC and La Vanguardia.

Since the beginning of decolonization after World War II, the UN has considered “non-autonomous” those territories that are geographically separate and distinct ethnically and culturally from the country, which is administrating them.

The pro-independence parties, which won the local parliamentary election in September, say Catalonia has the right for self-determination due to having its own language and distinct culture.

The UN chief praised the Spanish central authorities in Madrid for their “respect for diversity: the culture, the languages, the traditions."

"Spain is an independent and sovereign country that includes the Catalan region. It is in this way that it was admitted to the UN and acts within the international community," he said.