For the first time ever, a Chief Minister of Gibraltar took part in talks with Spanish and British Foreign Ministers on improving co-operation between the Rock and the neighbouring area in the province of Cadiz, known as the Campo de Gibraltar.
Last week, Peter Caruana, Gibraltar’s Chief Minister, met with Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel ángel Moratinos and his British counterpart, Jack Straw, in Kent, in the U.K., to discuss the setting up of a new forum that would open the way for better co-operation between Spain and Gibraltar at a local level.
The British Foreign Office was represented at the meeting by Dominic Chilcott, while the director general for Europe in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, José Pons, represented the Spanish side.
Moratinos said on Thursday of last week that the future status of Gibraltar would continue to be on the negotiating table, as he put it, and that the long-term aim of his Government was to recuperate full sovereignty over the Rock.
He added, nevertheless, that the conversations in Chevening, Kent, with Caruana and Straw were held in a “friendly and constructive” atmosphere, and that both the Spanish and Gibraltar administrations would continue to work together over the following days in the same spirit. The meeting had been agreed upon between the Spanish and British Foreign Ministers in Madrid on October 27th.
The British and Spanish governments stressed their desire to establish the forum as a means by which Gibraltar would have its own voice in improved co-operation between Gibraltar and the Campo de Gibraltar.
Questioned by reporters later in Paris on how the talks were going, Moratinos replied: “The fact that this is the first meeting of the forum is good news in itself. We are all going to work hard in the future to keep advancing on this issue, and we must be left to carry out this work.”
The Spanish Foreign Minister also had a meeting with Jack Straw in Brussels last week, in which Peter Caruana also took part.
Oblique criticism
In a press conference afterwards, he made an oblique criticism of the previous Spanish Government’s attitude towards Gibraltar, referring to “the nervousness of others” in getting tripartite talks under way. While accepting that these talks were different in format from any others before, Moratinos added that this issue of co-operation should not be simply a question of state policy, but should have the backing of the ordinary people as well.
He stressed the need for improved cooperation between the people of Gibraltar and their Spanish neighbours, and insisted that the fundamental aim of this policy, which should “combine discretion with publicity,” was that Spain should recuperate sovereignty over Gibraltar.
No date was set for a second meeting of the new forum. The Spanish embassy in London issued a communiqué in which it described the talks in glowing terms and urged all sides to continue working together in the same spirit of friendliness.
At the same time, British Government sources let it be known that the events of the week were very satisfying to the Government, especially the willingness of the Spanish administration to concentrate its diplomatic efforts in improving relations between people living on both sides of the Gibraltar border.
It is hoped the new forum will lead to a break in the deadlock over some thorny questions of the past, such as common use of Gibraltar airport.
Spain continues to deny the Gibraltarians use of Spanish air space in landing and taking-off manoeuvres at the airport.
Reaction at home came from the Socialist senator for Cadiz, José Carrasco, who said that this was a unique opportunity for progress on the Gibraltar question. “It should oblige all of us to avoid looking back at all costs, and to look towards a very hopeful future ... it is a moment in which nobody should dig their heels in, but on the contrary, should express publicly the desire for co-operation and good will. There are numerous issues that affect both sides of the border, and to achieve stability in the region and face up to common problems, we must make the most of this unique situation.”
He went on to stress the importance of the common use of the airport for both sides, to stimulate the economies of Gibraltar and La Línea, as well as other areas in the Campo de Gibraltar.
Courtesy of Sur in English
www.surinenglish.com
