The Diplomat
The crisis between Russia and Ukraine starred yesterday the appearance of the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, in Congress, where she asked the Catalan independence supporters to “stop slogans” and help to “really work for peace” and claimed to the Popular Party, which had accused the Government of “chaos, disorganization and lack of coordination”, to act with “sense of State” and stop “alarmist scenarios”.
“The ‘No to war’ is a phrase and we are all against wars, against the 34 wars that are currently declared” in the world, said Robles in response to the MP Gerard Alvarez, of ERC, who had previously criticized the Government’s decision to send new ships and aircraft to NATO missions without consulting Congress. “NATO has war crimes on its back. His colleagues in the Government think the same and we are glad. No to war,” added the pro-independence parliamentarian.
“Stop with the slogans and let’s really work for peace,” responded Robles, who specified that Spain’s participation in the Ukrainian crisis is restricted to its presence in NATO operations in force for many years, missions of stability and deterrence and that “in no case” are of an offensive nature. The Minister also reiterated the Government’s position in favor of “dialogue and diplomacy”.
Subsequently, the MP Pablo Hispán, of the PP, recalled that the crisis in Ukraine “is very serious” and, for this reason, the president of the party, Pablo Casado, “announced his support for Spain to fulfill its obligations with NATO countries”. However, he regretted that the Government’s response has been “chaos, disorganization and uncoordination”, with the ministers of Unidas Podemos “dusting off the ‘No to war’ banners and stickers”, and accused the Executive of reinforcing its participation in the Alliance’s missions without previously announcing it. “What else has to happen for Sánchez to come to this House?” he asked.
In her response, Margarita Robles asked the PP to show “responsibility and sense of State” and recalled that Spain was already involved in all these missions at the time when the Popular Party was governing. “Don’t create alarmist scenarios, work for peace, which is what this government and the Armed Forces are doing,” she continued. “Do not come to shout, at times like this we must know the reality, the position of Spain in NATO and work with the government,” added the minister, who also recalled that the next summit of the Alliance will be held in June in Madrid. “I understand that it bothers them and they don’t like it, but this government and Spain is a serious, reliable and responsible partner,” she added.
