The leader of the Legislative Committee in the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) has stated in a letter to a fellow Assembly Member (AM) that «Wales should properly be referred to as a country.»
John Griffiths AM/AC, a Labour Party member who holds the position of Counsel General and Leader of the Legislative Programme in the WAG, was responding to a query from Plaid Cymru AM, Leanne Wood, passed on by her by one of her constituents. Mr Griffiths response makes if clear that the term 'principality' to describe Wales is a «misnomer» and he said he will ensure that Wales «is not referred to as a principality in other reports and papers issued by the UK Government.»
The full text of the letter is set out below.
«Leanne Wood AM/AC
National Assembly for Wales
Ty Hywel
Cardiff Bay
Cardiff CF99 1NA
30th June 2010
Dear Leanne
National Status Inaccuracy
Thank you for your letter dated 27th May 2010, bringing to my attention that one of your constituents has picked up a description of Wales as being a
'principality', rather than a 'country', in a report the former UK Government
submitted to the United Nations Economic and Social Council in June 2007 for a conference on the standardisation of geographical names in August 2007. I apologise for the delay in replying.
I agree that, in relation to Wales, principality is a misnomer and that Wales
should properly be referred to as a country.
Please assure your constituent that the Welsh Assembly Government is committed to promoting Wales as a country both at home and abroad and we will endeavour to ensure that Wales is not referred to as a principality in other reports and papers issued by the UK Government.
Yours sincerely
John Griffiths AM/AC»
This article prepared for Celtic News by Rhisiart Tal-e-bot General Secretary
Celtic League. For follow-up comment or clarification contact:
Tel: 0044 (0)1209315884
M: 0044(0)7787318666
gensec@celticleague.net
J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information
Celtic League
28/07/10
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