Madrid, January 31st, 2019

Patrick Prendergast Esq.

President & Provost

Trinity College

DUBLIN-2

IRELAND

Dear Provost,

I am writing to you in my treble capacity of former Spanish Ambassador to Ireland (1987-1991), of Professor of International Law at the Complutense Madrid University and of father of a lady graduated in European Studies in Trinity College, Dublin.

I was amazed and disappointed by the decision of your University to invite Mr. Carles Puigdemont to a debate on “Independence, Nationalism and Democracy”, held on 29^th January under the Chair of Professor Gail McElroy.

I do not know whether Trinity College, Professor McElroy or yourself were aware that Mr, Puigdemont was a fugitive from Spanish Justice. Being the President of the Catalonian Regional Government, on October 1^st 2017, he held an illegal referendum on self-determination by Catalonia –which was expressly prohibited by the Spanish Constitutional Court, and, on the 27^th of that month, unilaterally declared the independence of Catalonia and its secession from Spain. He was accused by the Spanish Supreme Court of charges of rebellion, missapropriation of public funds and contempt, but he refused to appear in Court and fled to Belgium, where he has set-up a kind of Catalonian Government in exile.

Mr Puigdemont certainly knows a great deal about Nationalism and Independence –attempted, at least-, but he is very weak in Democracy. He has persistently violated the Spanish Constitution, the Catalonian Statute and various laws, both Spanish and Catalonian. I do not think that such person deserves to be invited to speak in a forum as prestigious as that of Trinity College. His presence in Dublin is an offense to Spain and to the European Union, and gives little credit to your institution.

In my personal capacity, I feel obliged to show my regret and express to you my protest at Puigdemont´s performance in a University that I so highly appreciate

Yours faithfully

José Antonio de Yturriaga Ph D.

Ambassador of Spain