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Asian Telegraph Qatar, led by veteran journalist Ashraf Siddiqui, is a trusted news platform focused on Qatar’s contributions to global peace, economic growth, education, and youth development. 

Featuring insights from international journalists, it covers local and global events in business, culture, sports, and more, offering readers balanced perspectives on both Qatar and world affairs.

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Beijing                                                                                                                                                                                                    31 Oct. 2017                                                                                                                                                                                   (Xinhua News)

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang  and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev met here on Tuesday, agreeing on closer cooperation and stronger ties.

Medvedev is the first foreign leader to visit China after the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). "This has shown the closeness and high level of China-Russia ties," Li said.

China is ready to consolidate trust, expand cooperation and exchanges with Russia, to bring cooperation visions into reality through Prime Ministers' Rugular Meeting as well as other cooperation mechanisms, Li said.

Under the new circumstances, China will further deepen reform and opening-up, nurture new driving forces, and share development opportunities with countries around the world, said the Chinese premier.

Li also briefed Medvedev on the 19th CPC National Congress.

Medvedev congratulated on the success of the congress. Hailing Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination as "high-level" and "future-oriented", he said Russia expects joint efforts with China for greater progress of cooperation.

Medvedev is on an official China visit from Tuesday to Thursday. Li and Medvedev will hold the 22nd China-Russia Prime Ministers' Regular Meeting on Wednesday.

Shanghai/                                                                                                                                                                                              Jiaxing, Zhejiango                                                                                                                                                                            01 Nov. 2017                                                                                                                                                                                      (Xinhua)

In July 1921, 13 individuals met and founded the Communist Party of China (CPC) in a brick-and-wood building in the French concession area of Shanghai.

Ninety-six years later, the new CPC leadership looked back on the Party's revolutionary past to seek impetus for future endeavors.

On Tuesday morning, Xi Jimping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, led the other six members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 19th CPC Central Committee to the sites where the first CPC National Congress was held.

Xi said the aim of the tour was to revisit the Party's past -- especially the history of its founding -- to learn from the predecessors of revolutionary times and their noble spirit.

The tour should also serve to throw light on the responsibility the current leadership now bears, and strengthen their sense of duty to fulfill targets and missions laid down at the 19th CPC National Congress, he said.

"Only by remaining true to our original aspiration, keeping our mission firmly in mind, and keeping on striving, could the Party stay young and live," said Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission.

"As long as the Party and all Chinese people unite and work hard, the great ship of national rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will reach its glorious destination," he said.

The first stop of the Tuesday visit was Shanghai.

In 1921, the delegates representing about 50 CPC members nationwide convened the first CPC National Congress in late July in Shanghai, but moved to a boat on Nanhu Lake in Jiaxing of east China's Zhejiang Province due to the harassment of local police.

The meeting site on Xingye Road has been open to public as a museum since 1952.

Xi visited the place three times when he worked in Shanghai.

After visiting a meeting room of the first CPC National Congress, Xi asked for efforts to protect and make good use of the site.

Once called by late Chinese leader Mao Zedong the "maternity ward of the CPC," the site is also the "spiritual home" of Chinese communists, Xi said.

They also visited exhibitions displaying the founding and development of the CPC.

"We can not forget the road that we have taken no matter how far we march," Xi said.

"We should often recall and deeply comprehend the cultural relics and scenes on the founding of the CPC so as to decode the CPC's original aspiration," he said.

Xi also led Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng to review the oath of the CPC in front of a huge CPC flag, then asked all CPC members to keep firmly in mind the oath and keep in alignment.

On Tuesday afternoon, the CPC leadership visited Jiaxing, following the footsteps of their forerunners.

The leaders visited a replica of the boat on which CPC founders convened their meeting in 1921 -- now referred to as the "Red Boat" -- and the Nanhu Lake Revolution Museum after a train trip from Shanghai.

The construction of the museum started on June 28, 2006, when Xi laid its cornerstone as then Zhejiang Party chief. However, Tuesday's visit was Xi's first visit to the museum since it opened in 2011.

Xi called on CPC members to implement the Red Boat spirit in the new era, which highlights pioneering work, persistence and dedication.

In an address at the end of Tuesday's tour, Xi called the Shanghai and Jiaxing sites "the places where the CPC's dream set sail" and "the root of the Party."

"Our Party was born here, our journey began here, and our rule of the country all dates back to here," Xi said.

Over the past 96 years, the CPC had united and led the Chinese people to make great achievements, but that undertaking has no end, Xi said.

"The original aspiration of the CPC members must never change," he said, adding that only in this way could the Party keep on striving and win the hearts of the people.

Noting that the 19th CPC National Congress had outlined targets and missions for the development of the Party and the country, Xi said all CPC members must observe the Party's fundamental purpose of wholeheartedly serving the people and working to improve the lives of the people.

They must keep in mind the noble ideal of Communism and the shared ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics, remain humble and prudent, and brave hardships and sacrifices, in order to realize the two Centenary Goals and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, Xi said.

Dhaka, Bangladesh                                                                                                                                                                          31 Oct 2017                                                                                                                                                                                  (Anadolu News)

Bangladesh summoned the Pakistani high commissioner in capital Dhaka Tuesday afternoon, demanding a formal apology for a Facebook post that allegedly misrepresented the country’s 1971 independence war, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Acting Foreign Secretary Kamrul Ahsan confirmed the development with Anadolu Agency, saying the video post had been made on the official Facebook page of the Pakistani High Commission.

According to Daily Star, the video claimed the late Bangladeshi politician Sheikh Mujibur Rahman did not want Bangladesh’s independence and had supposedly sought autonomy while former President Gen. Ziaur Rahman proclaimed independence.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said: “The government of Bangladesh seeks a formal note of apology for this ill-motivated and misleading video post and calls for an immediate withdrawal of the footage from the Facebook page reportedly maintained by the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka.

“The government of Bangladesh strongly rebuts such baseless and unfounded narratives.”

The Facebook post was later removed.

Ahsan added: “The envoy was also reminded that Bangladesh’s long freedom movement culminated in the declaration of independence by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 26 March 1971 and Pakistan’s subsequent surrender at Dhaka on 16 December 1971.”

According to state run news agency, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha: “The Pakistan envoy declined to talk to reporters as he came out but [Acting Foreign Secretary] Ahsan later said he [Pakistani envoy] expressed sorrow for posting the video, calling it an ‘unintentional’ act.”

Anadolu Agency tried to get in touch with Pakistani Embassy in Dhaka, but did not receive a comment over the incident.

Late Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is a controvercial figure as a Banglaesh freedom leader in it's  constituency in Bangladesh and is regarded as Father of Nation when ruling party National Awami Party is in power only.  Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with his family members except one (present Prime Minister Hasina Wajid) were found killed at his residence.

Doha                                                                                                                                                                                                    30 Oct. 2017

World's renowned Doha based Urdu language Literary forum 'Majlis-e-Frogh-e-Urdu Adab Qatar' (Forum for Development of Urdu Literature Qatar) will be awarding it's 21st annual International Awards to Prof. Fatheh Muhammad Malik (Pakistan) and Prof. Abdus Samad (India). It will be followed by 23rd Annual session of Urdu reciting poetry.

The event is organised by Majlis in collaboration with katara Cultural Village Foundation  under the patronage of Ministry of Culture, Heritage and Sports, State of Qatar at the amphitheatre, Katara Cultural Village  on 2nd of November 2017.

This year, a Special Aalmi Frogh-e-Urdu Award  will also be awarded to Dr. Syed Taqi Abedi, a Canadian national poet, by origin from India.

'Katara is our cultural partner', Chairman Majlis, Mohammad Atiq said. He said that ' Katara is a valley of cultures, art, literature, poetry, theatre  and music from different  parts of the world'.  On behalf of Majlis (committee consists of board members from Pakistani & Indian community living in Qatar), We pay our gratitude to the management of Katara Cultural Village Foundation of their cooperation and support in organizing 21st Majlis Int'l Award and 23rd Annual Majlis Mushaira 2017, said Mohammad Atiq.

Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim  Al Sulaiti, General Manager of Katara, will be the chief guest on  the occasion.  Indian envoy P. Kumaran, and Pakistan's envoy to Qatar Shahzad Ahmed will be the guest of honour.

The award presentation ceremony will be followed by a grand mushaira which  will be presided over  by                  Dr. Khurshid Rizvi, a 19th Majlis' Aalmi Award winner and is also the Chairman of Pakistan' Award Jury.

Compering of the mushaira (poetry reciting) will be done by Doha based renowned  compere and poet Fartash Syed,

Following poets will be participating this year in Doha based world's prestigious Majlis Frogh-e-Urdu Adab annual poetry evening in Doha :

Farhat Ehsas, Azm Shakri,  Ms. Lata Haya, Dr. Mehtab Alam and Vijay Tiwari are from India.

Dr. Khurshid  Rizvi, Dr. Inam ul Haq Javied, Ms. Sabin Saif, Khalid Sharif, Zaeem Rashid, Syed Naveed Haider and Fakhra Anjum will be participating from Pakistan.

Fartash Syed, Aziz Nabil and Syed Mishfiq Raza Naqvi wil be participating from Doha, Qatar

Dr. Taqi Abedi (Canada), Amer Bin Ali (Japan), Bader Seemab (Kuwait) and Ghazal Ansari (UK )are also participating from various regions around the world.

 

Guest entry is free and Urdu literature lovers in Qatar and around are welcomed to attend.

Doha                                                                                                                                                                                                  30 Oct. 2017                                                                                                                                                                                (AlJazeera News)

The emir of Qatar has said a group of Arab states blockading his country for almost five months is seeking "regime change".

Speaking to US television programme 60 Minutes, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad AThani said it was "obvious" that the Saudi-led quartet is trying to force a change of leadership in Qatar.

"History as well tells us, teaches us, they tried to do that before, in 1996 after my father became the emir," he told host Charlie Rose in a wide-ranging interview that aired on Sunday.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain cut ties with Qatar on June 5 and imposed a land, sea and air embargo, accusing it of supporting "terrorism". Doha denies the allegation.

"They don't like our independence, the way how we are thinking, our vision for the region," Sheikh Tamim told CBS' 60 Minutes.

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"We want freedom of speech for the people of the region and they're not happy with that, and so they think that this is a threat to them."

Sheikh Tamim became emir in 2013 at the age of 33, after his father, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, transferred power to him.

Sheikh Hamad had taken power in 1995, while his father was on an overseas trip. He survived a 1996 coup attempt and in the years that followed Qatar experienced rapid economic growth, helped by its vast natural gas reserves.

' It was a shock '

The months-long diplomatic dispute began about two weeks after a late May Arab-Islamic-American summit in Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, which was attended by US President Donald Trump and representatives of 55 Arab and Muslim-dominated countries.

Among them was both the Qatari Emir and the leaders of the countries that subsequently blockaded Qatar.

"It was a shock," said Sheikh Tamim, referring to the blockade.

"A few weeks before that, we were meeting, all of us together, in one room, including President Trump," he told CBS News' 60 Minutes.

"We were discussing terrorism, financing terrorism, and nobody brought any concern from those countries. Nobody told me anything."

When asked about the presence of  Taliban in Qatar, Sheikh Tamim said that they were asked and allowed to set up offices in the Qatari capital of Doha at the request of the United States.

"The reason why they came here, it's not because we asked them to come," he told 60 Minutes.

"America asked … They wanted to have dialogue so they asked us if we can host them here and have the dialogue. So we hosted them here, this is the reason why they're here," added Sheikh Tamim.

"When they [blockading countries] talk about terrorism, absolutely not. We do not support terrorism."

Al Jazeera's Mike Hanna, reporting from Washington, DC, said that this was the "first public statement from the emir since this crisis began back in June.

"He made it very clear his belief that the charges by the other Gulf states and Egypt are completely baseless ... and rejected out of hand the claims by the boycotting states that Qatar is backing terrorism in any form," added Hanna.

'We want it to end'

In the interview, the emir also said he is willing to attend US-hosted direct talks to put an end to the diplomatic crisis, but added that he has yet to hear a response to Trump's offer to hold a meeting at his retreat in Camp David.

"We want it [the crisis] to end. But nothing is going to be above our dignity, our sovereignty," Sheikh Tamim told 60 Minutes.

"But we want it to end, I always say that. If they are going to walk one metre towards me, I'm willing to walk 10,000 miles towards them."

On June 22, the quartet issued a 13-point list of demands, including the shutdown of Qatar-based media network Al Jazeera, limiting ties with Iran and expelling Turkish troops stationed in the country as a prerequisite to lifting the blockade.

Doha rejected all the demands, denouncing them as attempts to infringe on Qatar's sovereignty.

During the interview, the Qatari emir reiterated that the fate of Al Jazeera, which was launched in 1996, was not up for discussion.

"We're not going to shut down Al Jazeera," he said.

"Our sovereignty is a red line. We don't accept anybody interfering with our sovereignty. When you tell me to close a channel like Al Jazeera, history will write one day in 50, 60 or 70 years how it changed the whole idea of free speech in the region."

The 60 Minutes interview took place in Doha in early October, shortly after the emir's return to the country after his first foreign trip since the start of the crisis.

In a major show of unity, thousands lined up the streets of Doha welcome back Sheikh Tamim following the trips to Europe and the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he denounced the "unjust siege" imposed on Qatar.

When asked by Rose if he thought that the Saudi-led group had underestimated him, Sheikh Tamim replied: "I think they underestimated the Qatari people. I'm so proud of the people."

Doha                                                                                                                                                                                                      29 October 2017

Pakistan's global fame and top fashion designers 'Khaadi Fashions' have recently opened it's first out let in Qatar at the ' Doha Festival City ' with soft opening last Friday, a weak earlier.

' Khaadi' since its inception in 1998, by fashion designer, Shamoon Sultan, has developed enormously into a full fashion house.  Known for its dazzling mélange of yummy colors, full of happiness, textures, and hottest styles in the purest cottons and silks that arrest the minds and hearts of people in its extraordinary ambiance.

Khaadi aims to revive the tradition of hand woven fabric, which has been an intrinsic part of rich tapestry of life in the East, into a solid new market.

' The beauty of our fabrics is it attracts people of any civilization and of tastes, said UK based Miss Mavi Osman recently moved to Qatar as Store Manager. Every line has it's influence from longer length to shorter, whichever the national comes in,  it's always something to attract them', Mavi Osman said.

Miss Mawi Osman said that second store of 'Khaadi' in Qatar will be opened soon in Mall of Qatar.  Presently, Khaadi has its stores in Pakistan, United Kingdom,  US, Canada, Australia, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

It has an extensive distribution network and on-line facilities to select the fabric, outfit, design and just interested person has to send his / her measurement.

 

 

29 Oct 2017                                                                                                                                                                                    (AlJazeera News)

The parliament of the Iraqi Kurdish region has approved a request by Masoud Barzani, the president of Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), not to renew his term when it expires on November 1.

The approval came during a closed session on Sunday of the Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament in the regional capital, Erbil.

The decision comes just over a month after a controversial secession referendum spearheaded by Barzani, which led to days of fighting between Iraqi government and Kurdish Peshmerga forces.

In a letter to parliament, Barzani had said: "I, as Masoud Barzani the Peshmerga, will continue with our nation and beloved Peshmerga in endeavours to achieve the just rights of our nation and protect the achievements of our nation."

Barzani, 71, has signalled that he wants to divide presidential powers between the regional government, parliament and the judiciary.

However, he will remain in Kurdish politics as leader of the High Political Council, according to his senior assistant Hemin Hawrami.

The KRG's High Political Council was formed to replace the High Referendum Council to take the lead in the post-referendum phase.

Question of Successor

Barzani's decision throws the field wide open to aspirants for the KRG president's post after he vacates it.

The veteran Kurdish leader and head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) initially said he would step down after Iraqi Kurds went the polls on November 1.

But these elections have now been postponed by eight months, leaving it unclear what would happen to the presidency in the interim.

Rumours had been circulating for the past two weeks that Barzani would end his presidency, a post he has held for 12 years.

His tenure had officially expired in August 2015.

On Saturday, unnamed politicians and Kurdish news media reported that Barzani had sent a letter to parliament laying out how power should be distributed once he is no longer in office.

Some in the Kurdish region believe that Barzani's stepping down is of little consequence - that he will remain in the background while the Barzani family will maintain its grip on the KRG, perhaps with Nechirvan Barzani, his nephew and KRG prime minister, taking charge in an interim capacity.

Other analysts suggest that this is a small step towards giving Kurdish institutions more sway, empowering parliament, which has been in a state of suspension since 2015 when a rift developed between the KDP and the opposition Gorran movement.

Controversial Referendum

Barzani only recently reactivated parliament in order to win its approval for the September 25 referendum on secession, which Barzani wanted to be his legacy.

In 2016, he said: "The day we have an independent Kurdistan, I will cease to be the president of that Kurdistan."

He went ahead with the referendum against the wishes and warnings of some of his closest allies, most notably the US.

Doha                                                                                                                                                                                                  28 Oct 2017

Since Thursday 26 October 2017, Green Color KARWA Taxis on Qatar roads have minimum charge of QR 10.00 for  first six KMs. Onward first 6 kms distance, there will be a charge of QR 1.00 for additional each 1.5 kilometer distance. Earlier additional charge was in decimal, whereas, now additional charges are in round figure of QR 1/-.

On booking a Karwa taxi, additional QR 5/- will be charged and waiting period charges are QR1.00 onward 10  minutes of waiting, told by Murad Khan, a Pakistani Taxi driver when traveling with him.

Karwa Taxis are managed by Mowasalat and owned by the Government are safe and with latest technology adhering to safety standards.

Karwa provides a wide range of services including airport services as and when guests arrive at Hamad International Airport with a minimum Charge higher than normal charges in city area.

To serve special need passenger/s, taxis equipped with elevator mechanism can be availed at the airport when required and also booked in advance through Call Center 800-TAXI (8294)

 

Barcelona                                                                                                                                                                                          27 October 2017                                                                                                                                                                                (NPR News/AlJazeera News)

Lawmakers in Catalonia have declared independence from Spain, in a historic vote that prompted protests and celebration.

The government in Madrid, vowing to halt any would-be secession, has authorized the Spanish prime minister to take over direct rule of the previously semi-autonomous region.

The vote in Catalonia's Parliament comes nearly a month after the region held a referendum on independence, over Spain's vehement objections. The regional president then declared his support for separation from Spain, but also called for talks with Madrid, in an ambiguous speech.

Spain's central government, promising to crack down harshly if the declaration was real, told the region's leaders to make up their mind: Yes, or no? Independence, or not?

Now it's final: Independence, Catalonia said.

Secessionists have a slight majority in the parliament, but the vote on Thursday was 70 in favor of independence, 10 against and 2 blank ballots, the Associated Press reports — because most of the pro-unity opposition left the vote in protest before the ballots were cast.

One member of the opposition protested the declaration of independence, saying it would leave pro-union Catalans "orphaned without a government." Pro-independence Catalans, meanwhile, celebrated outside the parliament building.

Thousands of people had gathered to watch the vote, waving flags and chanting "freedom" as regional lawmakers debated. After the vote, there was cheering and dancing, the AP writes.

Spain says it will not tolerate any claim of independence.

Earlier on Thursday, Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy had asked the country's Senate for the power to impose direct rule over secessionist Catalonia, saying he would use it first to depose the region's president.

The Senate approved that request just minutes after Catalonia's vote was final, Reuters reports.

Rajoy delivered an impassioned speech to loud applause in the chamber, insisting that Catalonia's declaration of independence is "a clear violation of the laws, of democracy, of the rights of all, and that has consequences."

The Spanish premier said he would immediately dismiss Catalan President Carles Puigdemont if the Senate approved invoking Article 155 of Spain's Constitution, allowing it to abrogate Catalonia's autonomy.

His Cabinet is now expected to convene to plan the initial steps of taking power in Catalonia, which could also include direct supervision of Catalan police forces, Reuters writes.

On Thursday, Puigdemont said no to a regional election that might have helped to calm tensions with Madrid.

NPR News reported earlier : "Catalonia, which includes the city of Barcelona and is one of Spain's wealthiest and most culturally distinct regions, voted overwhelmingly on Oct. 1 to secede from Spain. Puigdemont then declared independence but suspended it in nearly the same breath while calling for talks with Madrid. Catalan lawmakers also passed articles of secession."

NPR Reports "The referendum went 90 percent in favor of independence, but with only about half of registered voters turning out. Massive street protests in favor of unity came a week after the vote."

Spanish courts had already ruled the election illegal, and Spain's police countered pro-independence forces, in some cases violently, in an effort to stop the vote. ... More than one deadline for the clarification came and went with Puigdemont instead choosing an ambivalent stance: He proclaimed he now possessed a "mandate" to secede but was immediately pausing independence efforts to allow for talks."

By Creede Newton reports in AlJazeera News - a guide to Spain's minority regions and the political implications of Article 155.

The Basque

The region most similar to Catalonia, in terms of secessionist feelings and economic performance, is the Basque Country. The centre-right Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) oversees the ruling coalition of the region.

"The PNV government is looking with great interest at what's going on in Catalonia," Sebastian Balfour, Emeritus Professor of Contemporary Spanish Studies at the London School of Economics, told Al Jazeera.

PNV holds five of 350 seats in the Spanish Congress and six of 266 seats in the Senate, but each seat counts. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's People's Party (PP) is leading a minority government in parliament and periodically needs support from the PNV.

Basque President Inigo Urkullu said that Article 155 is "extreme and disproportionate. It blows up bridges. The Generalitat [Catalan regional government] has our support to find a constructive future."

Respect for minority rights is central to the Basque people. Their language, Euskara, is unrelated to any other and Basque people are genetically distinct from all other Europeans. They are one of the oldest European indigenous groups.

Basque separatists led by the far-left Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA), an armed group whose name translates to "Basque Homeland and Liberty", waged a conflict with the Spanish state starting in 1959 that resulted in the death of more than 1,000 people and the wounding of more than 6,000 more.

ETA officially disarmed on April 8, though the group had declined in membership for years.

While ETA had long been the premier force for change in the relationship between the Basque and Madrid, PNV now has that chance. If they withdraw support for Rajoy's government, it "will affect the forthcoming 2018 budget", Balfour said.

Without a budget, Rajoy's chances for a full term are slim, as Spain hopes to continue its climb out of secession.

The Catalan countries

Article 155 could affect Spanish politics beyond the 2018 budget. Catalonia is only a part, albeit the largest part, of Els Paisos Catalans, or the Catalan countries.

The language and culture of Catalonia come from a long history within the Crown of Aragon, a kingdom which existed from the 12th to 18th centuries and controlled parts of Spain, Andorra, Italy, France and Greece.

Spain's present-day Catalan countries include Valencia, Catalonia's southern neighbour and the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea.

Valencia is the birthplace of one of Spain's most well-known dishes, the rice-based paella. Santiago Calatrava, the world-famous architect who designed the new World Trade Center hub in New York, as well as many other works.

"These territories have regionalist parties that demand, like Catalonia years ago, better autonomy and respect for cultural diversity," Jordi Graupera, a Catalan author and researcher at Princeton University, told Al Jazeera.

The president of Valencia's regional government, Ximo Puig of the centre-left regional branch of the Spanish Socialist Party, has yet to comment on the use of Article 155.

The Balearic Islands are home to the popular tourist destination of Mallorca and birthplace of tennis star Rafael Nadal.

Francina Armengol, president of the Balearic Islands also from her regional Socialist Party, has said that she wants Catalonia to remain part of Spain, but is against the application of Article 155.

While there are grassroots independence movements in these regions, they aren't as strong as those of Catalonia.

Spain's strong-arm treatment of Catalonia "will show Valencians and Mallorcans (the name for residents of the Balearic Islands) that they should leave as well, and, in 10 or 20 years, a serious separatist movement will appear there", Graupera predicted.

The Galicians

Galicia is another region with a unique identity, language and separatist strain is found on Spain's northwestern Atlantic coast.

The Kingdom of Galicia existed from the fifth century, at times encompassing much of northwest present-day Spain and northern Portugal, until the 15th century, when it joined Spain. Galician and Portuguese are in the same language grouping and were mutually ineligible until that time.

Given this shared history, there is a group in Galicia that believes their land should reunite with Portugal. Others argue it should be independent, citing the Celtic history of Galicia.

But Galicia remains a rural, largely agrarian region with much less industrialisation than the modern Basque Country and Catalonia, with a lower economic output.

So, in spite of the same cultural "starting conditions" as these regions, economic underdevelopment and has slowed the spread of Galician nationalism, Tiago Peres Goncalves, a Galician historian and author, told Al Jazeera.

The region consistently votes for Spanish nationalist parties. The authoritarian Spanish leader Francisco Franco was from Galicia as is Rajoy, the current prime minister.

There was a period in the 1990s when the Galician National Block, a left-wing secessionist party, was gaining traction. Elections in 1997 saw the party win 25 percent of the vote and 18 delegates in the regional parliament, Peres explained. That slowed as Spanish nationalism gained strength in the early 2000s.

That doesn't mean the nationalist movement is dead. "In fact, on the eve of the October 1 referendum in Catalonia, thousands of people took to the streets in various Galician cities in solidarity and support of the Catalan people," Peres said.

But Spanish media, which has been accused of bias in its reporting on Catalan independence, worries Galicians, Peres commented. They believe Catalonia's exit would "result in a loss of part of their purchasing power and a decrease in their wages," the historian continued.

The best outcome, in Peres view, would be a negotiated settlement between Madrid and Catalonia.

Catalan President Carles Puigdemont has repeatedly offered dialogue. Rajoy said it wasn't an offer, but an imposition.

While Rajoy's play for a strong, centralised Spain through Article 155's implementation might expand nationalist movements in other parts of Spain, the consequences "will be very negative for Galician independence movements", Peres concluded.

Doha                                                                                                                                                                                                    26 Oct 2017                                                                                                                                                                                    (QNA/Gulf Times)
His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani held official talks with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena at the Emiri Diwan on Thursday.
They reviewed bilateral relations and ways to boost them in various fields including in investment, energy, education, health and medical sciences.
Regional and international issues of common interest also figured in the talks.
Later, the Emir and the Sri Lankan president witnessed the signing of a number of agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoU) between the two countries.
An agreement on co-operation in diplomatic and research training was signed between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries.
Another agreement was on providing urgent aid to Sri Lanka to tackle drought and it was signed between the Qatar Fund for Development and the government of Sri Lanka.
In addition, an MoU on mutual exemption of visas for holders of diplomatic, private and official passports was signed.
Other MoUs were on co-operation in the energy field; on waste management; in health and medical sciences; and an MoU on exchanging financial investigations between the Financial Information Unit of Qatar and the information unit of Sri Lanka.
The talks were attended by a number of Qatari ministers and members of the delegation accompanying the Sri Lankan president.
The Emir later hosted a luncheon banquet at the Emiri Diwan in honour of the Sri Lankan president and his accompanying delegation.
The banquet was attended by a number of ministers.
The Sri Lankan president was accorded an official reception when he arrived at the Emiri Diwan.

The Sri Lankan president later left Qatar.

He was seen off at Hamad International Airport by HE the Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani, Qatar's Ambassador to Sri Lanka Rashid bin Shafea al-Marri and Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Qatar Don Prince Solomon Anura Liyanage.

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