Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 world news
Monday 20 noveMber 2017

EU official backs Spain in fight against Catalan secession

By JOSEPH WILSON concern,” European Com-
Associated Press mission President Jean-
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) Claude Juncker told the
— Catalonia’s secession- Spanish newspaper El Pais.
ist push is nothing short of “I don’t like the situation it
a “disaster” that the Euro- has provoked. It is a disas-
pean Union will work to im- ter in several ways. It has
pede in support of a unified charged the political at-
Spain, the European Com- mosphere, it has fractured
mission’s president said in Spanish and Catalan soci-
comments published Sun- ety, it has caused problems
day. inside families, between
Spain is facing its worst na- friends. It’s sad.”
tional crisis in nearly four Juncker sent a message
decades after Catalonia’s to Carles Puigdemont, the
regional parliament vio- ex-Catalan president who
lated the Spanish Constitu- fled to Belgium, that Cata-
tion by voting to declare lan secessionists “must not
independence Oct. 27. underestimate the wide
Prime Minister Mariano Ra- support that Mariano Rajoy
joy responded by firing its has throughout Europe.”
government, dissolving the The threat to shatter the
Catalan parliament and EU’s fifth-largest economy European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, center, arrives for an EU summit in
calling a regional election comes while the 28-na- Goteborg, Sweden on Friday, Nov. 17, 2017.
for Dec. 21. tion bloc is handling its di- (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
“Catalonia is an enormous vorce with Britain and the impact it will have on the ing their identity, of what sometimes are a tremen-
continent’s economy and makes them different,” he dous error, and even more
fragile common political said. “But that does not so if one declares indepen-
project. mean that we are going dence unilaterally based
“I am in favor of a Europe to support these regions in on a referendum that
of regions, of respect- all their adventures, which lacked in guarantees.”q

Sinn Fein’s divisive leader Gerry Adams

to step down after over 30 years

By SYLVIA HUI change and that time is 2005. Although many iden-
Associated Press now,” he said, adding the tify Adams as a member of
LONDON (AP) — Gerry Ad- move was part of an ongo- the IRA since 1966 and a
ams, the divisive politician ing process of leadership commander for decades,
known around the world transition within the party. Adams has long insisted he
as the face of the Irish re- A divisive figure, some have was never a member.
publican movement as it denounced Adams as a Adams was key in the
shifted from violence to terrorist while others hail peace process that saw
peace, announced Satur- him as a peacemaker. the signing of the 1998
day that he was stepping He was a key figure in Ire- Good Friday Agreement
down as leader of Sinn Fein land’s republican move- and the formation of the
next year after heading the ment, which seeks to take power-sharing government
party for over 30 years. Northern Ireland out of the in Northern Ireland.
The 69-year-old veteran U.K. and unite it with the Many believe Sinn Fein’s
politician — who has been Republic of Ireland. popularity among voters
president of Northern Ire- The dominant faction of is hampered by the pres-
land’s second-largest party the movement’s armed ence of leaders from Ire-
since 1983 — told the par- wing, the Provisional IRA, land’s era of Troubles.
ty’s annual conference in killed nearly 1,800 people The party is expected to
Dublin he would not run in during a failed 1970-1997 elect a successor next
the next Irish parliamentary campaign to force North- year. Current deputy lead-
elections. ern Ireland out of the U.K. er Mary Lou McDonald was
“Leadership means know- It renounced violence and seen as a favorite to suc-
ing when it is time for surrendered its weapons in ceed Adams. q