Slovenia defends its road to independence after Catalan president controversy

Slovenian government sources defended the country’s road to independence in statements to the Catalan News Agency, saying the only “violence” came from the “armed aggression” of the Yugoslavian army.

Diplomatic sources also stated that Slovene independence was based “unequivocally” in the Fundamental Principles of the Constitution of the Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia (1974), which included in its preamble “the right of its citizens to self-determination, which includes the right to secession.”  

Catalan president’s speech causes controversy

The Balkan country’s statements come after the Catalan president made a speech following his trip to the country on official business, in which he expressed his support for the “Slovenian way” and determination in a speech in Brussels, comments which garnered criticism from opposition parties.

Catalan president Quim Torra said on Saturday that  "Slovenians were clear about it, they decided to insist on their self-determination, and move forward with all the consequences, until achieving their aims," he said. "Let's do the same as them."

Criticism from opposition, Spanish government, and others

The leader of the opposition, Inés Arrimadas, reacted to the remarks by calling Torra and his government "a danger to democracy and coexistence." For the leader of the Ciutadans party, Torra is advocating "violence and a civil conflict." Spain's Socialist foreign minister, Josep Borrell, who is Catalan, claimed on Monday that the reference to Slovenia "is a way to express what seems to be a call for an uprising."

The Catalan Socialists also called Torra's suggestion "a mistake, absolute nonsense, recklessness." In the same vein, Barcelona's mayor, Ada Colau, asked the president to "immediately correct himself." The leader of Catalunya en Comú, which is non-aligned on the independence issue, said Torra's remarks show "serious irresponsibility."

“Only illegal aspect” was “armed aggression”

Slovenian sources additionally claimed that the “only and totally unconstitutional as well as illegal aspect” was in the “armed aggression by the rump federal army” given by Yugoslavia.  “Such a military action would have required a decision by the federal presidency, acting as Commander-in-chief. The decision was never taken,” they assure, reminding of an “attempt in this respect” in 1991 which “failed to get required majority.”

“The ‘Slovenian way’ was the way of Rule of Law. Violence and deaths, on the other hand, were the result of illegal actions by some others, notably at the federal level, who ordered the army to attack Slovenia without any legal basis to do so,” stated the sources. Quim Torra’s statements about the Balkan country and the controversy they stirred up have so far gotten the attention of the media in the country itself.