UN head on pardons: 'Conditions to allow dialogue to prosper always very important'

The secretary-general of the United Nations, António Guterres, has spoken out in favour of the pardons given to Catalan independence leaders and of talks between the Catalan and Spanish administrations to resolve the ongoing conflict.

"The creation of conditions to allow dialogue to prosper is always very important for our societies," the head of the supranational organization said ahead of a meeting with Spanish president Pedro Sánchez on Friday.

Responding to journalists' questions, Guterres initially appeared reluctant to comment on the pardons, saying that he was not meant to address Spain's "internal political matters."