belgrade catalonia president choice suspend secession since unlikely anyone recognize spanish region basis dispute referendum former british diplomat advise catalans secessionist movements say carne ross founder diplomatic consultancy independent diplomat work kosovo south sudan western sahara catalonia respective bid sovereignty say would solution crisis without legal plebiscite agree madrid get would require pressure spain european union partner ross tell reuters telephone interview full declaration independence would problematic would lead obvious confrontation madrid catalan president carles puigdemont enormous pressure declare independence include assume countries catalonia would look recognition say ross end day independent need recognize think likely get international recognition legal referendum madrid accept puigdemont declare tuesday catalonia mandate independence propose suspend sovereignty allow talk madrid agree solution wednesday spanish prime minister mariano rajoy call clarity whether catalonia declare independence raise specter madrid suspend region autonomy catalonia oct. referendum declare illegal spanish high court muster 43 percent turnout many independence opponents stay home hundreds people injure baton-wielding police intervene close poll station ross say many catalans radicalize madrid resistance police behavior fuel add fire say view legitimate independence legitimately declare clear majority population think right declare independence clear majority things currently stand catalonia clear majority ross formerly head middle east section british mission unite nations resign civil service 2004 invasion iraq work independent diplomat subject documentary accidental anarchist broadcast july bbc ross advise catalan government july 2013 september 2015 commit advocate self-determination say unrealistic expect mediate solution result instance great autonomy catalonia cite examples montenegro scotland referendums hold basis negotiate term 2006 2014 respectively montenegro narrowly vote leave state union serbia majority scots opt remain britain think international community call madrid britain scotland allow legal referendum resolve french president emmanuel macron reject call puigdemont eu mediation ross say bloc state clearly madrid need find consensual solution ask catalans err hold referendum madrid agree ross reply option build pressure dialogue catalans choice delay say former adviser