APD | Catalonia asks EU meddling to deal with crisis

By APD writer Aditya Nugraha

**BARCELONA, Oct. 16 (APD) - **Meritxell Serret, Catalonian government representative to European Union (EU), demanded intervention of European institutions to open political dialogues between Spain and Catalonia.

Spanish Supreme Court sentenced nine Catalan leaders up to 13 years in prison, being charged of misusing public funds for their roles in the region’s bid for independence in 2017.

"It is necessary to sit and talk. Nobody should stay silent with this unacceptable verdict," Serret said on Tuesday.

EU, however, has stated it fully respects the Spanish court verdict.

"Our position has not changed: this is and remains an internal matter for Spain," a commission spokeswoman said on Monday.

Members of European Parliament (MEP) have supported debate on the verdict in European parliament. They also supported for amnesty possibility for the jailed Catalan politicians.

Spain Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska ruled out for either pardons or amnesty for the jailed ones on Monday.

Thousands of protesters blocked Barcelona airport after the verdict against the Catalan politicians handed down by the Spanish Supreme Court on Monday. More than 100 flights were cancelled due to the massive protest in the airport. Over 130 ones injured in the demonstration, reports said.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)