Julian
Assange, the creator of controversial website WikiLeaks, which published
documents exposing a number of governments, including the United States, is
still under diplomatic asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London. The
situation has created a rift between the UK and Ecuadorian governments.

The
UK government has received a European Arrest Warrant forcing it to extradite
Assange to Sweden, since the Swedish
government wishes to question him in connection with sexual assault allegations.
Assange is willing to answer to the justice system, but fears he will end up
being extradited to the United States, which he refuses to accept. In the
meantime, Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa has granted him asylum in Ecuador,
but the United Kingdom does not recognize the principle of diplomatic asylum.

Pérez
Desoy spoke about the case on Wednesday, 5 December 2012. He was introduced by
Víctor Pou, a UIC professor and the director of the course. The Universitat de València professor
analysed the different ways in which Assange could leave the Ecuadorian embassy
under the two Vienna Conventions (1961 and 1963), the diplomatic immunity of
embassies and the asylum that may be granted, and the various implications of
these different options. Pérez Desoy said, “Until one of these scenarios is
decided on, Julian Assange is likely to remain at Flat 3b, 3 Hans Crescent,
London SW1X”.

The
talk was one of a series of special sessions held as part of the course on
International Relations, Diplomatic Law and Consular Relations, which was
officially opened in October 2012 by Senén Florensa, the Secretary for Foreign
Affairs of the government of Catalonia.

So
far, sessions have been given by Roser Clavell, the Director of Patronat
Catalunya Món (a government body created to promote the internationalization of
Catalonia), and Josep Maria Lloveras, a senior official at the European
Commission and a former ambassador of the European Union in the Central African
Republic and Serbia.  Speakers due to
appear at upcoming sessions include Joaquim Llimona, the Director of
International Relations at Barcelona City Council, and Andreu Bassols, the Director
General of the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed).