KING Felipe VI's annual Christmas Eve speech once again included a covert appeal to secessionist politicians, as well as raising concerns about young adults' struggle to afford housing and violence against women.
“Catalunya independence would be stupid,” Trump tells Rajoy
27/09/2017
UNITED States president Donald Trump told his Spanish counterpart Mariano Rajoy he thinks Catalunya independence would be 'stupid'.
They met in the White House yesterday (Tuesday) for the first time officially – although they briefly said 'hello' to each other in Brussels earlier in the year – and Trump praised Rajoy's handling of the Catalunya referendum situation.
He said Spain was 'a great country' which 'should remain united'.
“Really, I think the people of Catalunya will stay in Spain, and I think it would be stupid not to; we're talking about staying in a country that's truly great, beautiful and historic,” the Republican leader said in a joint press conference with Rajoy following their meeting.
With five days to go as at yesterday before the 'illegal' referendum, Catalunya was the main topic of conversation between the two presidents, but during a working lunch they also analysed Spain's and the USA's bilateral relationship and international affairs such as North Korea and Venezuela.
Trump called for the European Union to apply sanctions to Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro.
Until now, the White House, speaking of Catalunya, has merely said the referendum was 'an in-house issue' for Spain but that it supported Rajoy's government.
This was the official line delivered by US defence minister James Mattis last weekend in a meeting with his Spanish counterpart Maria Dolores de Cospedal in Williamsburg, Virginia.
As well as proclaiming Spain 'a great country', Trump gave Rajoy his condolences over the terrorist attacks in Catalunya and thanked Spain for its participation in the coalition against DAESH – otherwise known as ISIS or the soi-disant 'Islamic State of Iraq and Syria' – as well as having trained over 30,000 members of the Iraqi security forces by sending Guardia Civil officers to the Middle East.
Rajoy advised Trump of Spain's intention to increase its commitment to the coalition following the fall of Mosul by providing a fresh financial package to help rebuild Iraq.
He spoke of Spain's own experience in dealing with terrorism – something it had plenty of practice at during the ETA era – although admitted there was still room for improvement in areas such as coordination, cyber-security and preventing recruitment and financing of terrorists.
Trump thanked Rajoy for Spain's decision to throw out the North Korean ambassador in the country and, as such, showing its support for the USA in 'isolating its brutal régime'.
Rajoy called the North Korea threats 'an unacceptable breach of international law' and reiterated that Spain would support the USA in its toughening up of sanctions against the Asian country as agreed by the United Nations Security Council.
Spain's president, additionally, promised to keep up the pressure on the EU to create 'a common, firm and supportive approach' to the USA on the North Korea issue.
When asked whether he believed it necessary for war to be declared on North Korea, Rajoy said 'nobody was interested' in doing so, but that 'what was happening right now' meant everyone needed to be firmly in favour of freedom and to warn Kim Jong-Un that it 'would not get anywhere by going down this road'.
“Spain will back any political decision which helps end this situation,” Rajoy stated.
Rajoy was praised for Spain's efforts to help the people of Venezuela and Trump said he trusted that other EU member States would also apply sanctions to Maduro's government.
“The Venezuelans suffer poverty, famine and political upheaval under Maduro's oppressive socialist régime,” Trump said, before expressing his hope for peace in the Latin American country on behalf of the USA and Spain, and for democracy to be restored and political prisoners released as soon as possible.
Rajoy promised to keep up international pressure on the Venezuelan government to convince it to open up talks leading to a peaceful, agreed and democratic solution to the current crisis.
Asked whether he would agree to a possible military intervention in Venezuela as Trump had suggested, Rajoy said that in light of the circumstances there, the international community 'should not beat about the bush'.
Trump also spoke of his hopes for continued 'fair and reciprocal' international trade with Spain and thanked Spanish business owners for investing in the USA, offering to continue to work closely with Rajoy in this respect 'going forward'.
Rajoy concluded that the meeting had been 'very productive' and that Spain and the USA are 'two great allies' who 'share values' and enjoy 'excellent relations' which the Spanish leader believes 'still have potential to strengthen' in various areas, particularly economic.
He considers it 'fundamental' to continue working together closely with the USA towards increasing economic growth and job creation.
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UNITED States president Donald Trump told his Spanish counterpart Mariano Rajoy he thinks Catalunya independence would be 'stupid'.
They met in the White House yesterday (Tuesday) for the first time officially – although they briefly said 'hello' to each other in Brussels earlier in the year – and Trump praised Rajoy's handling of the Catalunya referendum situation.
He said Spain was 'a great country' which 'should remain united'.
“Really, I think the people of Catalunya will stay in Spain, and I think it would be stupid not to; we're talking about staying in a country that's truly great, beautiful and historic,” the Republican leader said in a joint press conference with Rajoy following their meeting.
With five days to go as at yesterday before the 'illegal' referendum, Catalunya was the main topic of conversation between the two presidents, but during a working lunch they also analysed Spain's and the USA's bilateral relationship and international affairs such as North Korea and Venezuela.
Trump called for the European Union to apply sanctions to Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro.
Until now, the White House, speaking of Catalunya, has merely said the referendum was 'an in-house issue' for Spain but that it supported Rajoy's government.
This was the official line delivered by US defence minister James Mattis last weekend in a meeting with his Spanish counterpart Maria Dolores de Cospedal in Williamsburg, Virginia.
As well as proclaiming Spain 'a great country', Trump gave Rajoy his condolences over the terrorist attacks in Catalunya and thanked Spain for its participation in the coalition against DAESH – otherwise known as ISIS or the soi-disant 'Islamic State of Iraq and Syria' – as well as having trained over 30,000 members of the Iraqi security forces by sending Guardia Civil officers to the Middle East.
Rajoy advised Trump of Spain's intention to increase its commitment to the coalition following the fall of Mosul by providing a fresh financial package to help rebuild Iraq.
He spoke of Spain's own experience in dealing with terrorism – something it had plenty of practice at during the ETA era – although admitted there was still room for improvement in areas such as coordination, cyber-security and preventing recruitment and financing of terrorists.
Trump thanked Rajoy for Spain's decision to throw out the North Korean ambassador in the country and, as such, showing its support for the USA in 'isolating its brutal régime'.
Rajoy called the North Korea threats 'an unacceptable breach of international law' and reiterated that Spain would support the USA in its toughening up of sanctions against the Asian country as agreed by the United Nations Security Council.
Spain's president, additionally, promised to keep up the pressure on the EU to create 'a common, firm and supportive approach' to the USA on the North Korea issue.
When asked whether he believed it necessary for war to be declared on North Korea, Rajoy said 'nobody was interested' in doing so, but that 'what was happening right now' meant everyone needed to be firmly in favour of freedom and to warn Kim Jong-Un that it 'would not get anywhere by going down this road'.
“Spain will back any political decision which helps end this situation,” Rajoy stated.
Rajoy was praised for Spain's efforts to help the people of Venezuela and Trump said he trusted that other EU member States would also apply sanctions to Maduro's government.
“The Venezuelans suffer poverty, famine and political upheaval under Maduro's oppressive socialist régime,” Trump said, before expressing his hope for peace in the Latin American country on behalf of the USA and Spain, and for democracy to be restored and political prisoners released as soon as possible.
Rajoy promised to keep up international pressure on the Venezuelan government to convince it to open up talks leading to a peaceful, agreed and democratic solution to the current crisis.
Asked whether he would agree to a possible military intervention in Venezuela as Trump had suggested, Rajoy said that in light of the circumstances there, the international community 'should not beat about the bush'.
Trump also spoke of his hopes for continued 'fair and reciprocal' international trade with Spain and thanked Spanish business owners for investing in the USA, offering to continue to work closely with Rajoy in this respect 'going forward'.
Rajoy concluded that the meeting had been 'very productive' and that Spain and the USA are 'two great allies' who 'share values' and enjoy 'excellent relations' which the Spanish leader believes 'still have potential to strengthen' in various areas, particularly economic.
He considers it 'fundamental' to continue working together closely with the USA towards increasing economic growth and job creation.
Related Topics
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