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11,000 protest at Gibraltar talks, says Mail on Sunday Almost 11,000 letters, faxes and emails had been received by the Mail on Sunday by Saturday night in response to their 'Keep Gibraltar British Campaign'. Ministers and diplomats have solid evidence of public feeling against plans to discuss Gibraltar's sovereignty with Spain, in defiance of the clearly stated wishes of the colony's people who are determined to remain British, says the paper today. Five heavy sacks of protest messages have already been delivered to the Foreign Office in London. Columnist Peter Hitchens handed over the mailbags to senior diplomat John Macgregor who handles the Gibraltar issue. But Foreign Office minister Peter Hain showed no sign of having changed his mind about opening sovereignty talks, says the report. He again recited what he has been saying all along. The paper adds: Many on the Rock fear Mr Hain's longterm plan is to negotiate a sovereignty deal, allow it to be thrown out in a vote, and then abandon Gibraltar to her fate, as the Spanish use their EU veto and their control of the border to harass the colony into submission. That so many readers of the paper have bothered to respond to the 'Keep Gibraltar British Campaign', when they have noting to gain personally, shows the extent of pro-Gibraltar feeling in Britain. One of the letters received by the paper said: "Dear Foreign Secretary, while you are about it, how about handing back the Channel Islands to France, the Falklands to Argentina, Northern Ireland to the South, Scotland to the Scots and the Isle of Wight to anyone that wants it?" (02.12.01) Chief Minister's advisory council 'undemocratic', says Peliza OPEN LETTER TO THE PEOPLE OF GIBRALTAR, from former Chief Minister
Sir Robert Peliza: First UK annuity from Gibraltar-based life insurer
A Gibraltar-based life insurer this week launched the UK's first annuity which enables investors to pass on their entire pension fund assets to heirs after their death. The Voice of Gibraltar and self-determination groups will not be demonstrating outside the House of Assembly when the constitution committee meets next Monday. They say they have noted the chief minister's statement that he will not agree to the committee meeting while there is a presence of the groups outside the House. The groups say that there are now only six clauses left to finalise the work of the committee. "While the groups had intended to continue a vigil in support of the committee they do not in any way wish to be held responsible for any further delay in the work of the committee, which has already taken 2 1/2 years, thereby having the opposite effect to that which they set out to achieve," they say. Political sources described the volte-face by the groups as "chickening out" because the chief minister does not like something.. It is further noted that the constitution committee as such is being targeted for the delays, when it is well known that it is the chief minister, as chairman of the committee, who calls the meetings. Again, this point has not been made for fear of upsetting the chief minister. Concern is being expressed about the mettle of the groups given that, after spending 20 minutes with foreign secretary Jack Straw in Barcelona, they suddenly changed their tune as to whether he should come to Gibraltar or not. (30.11.01)
Opposition initiative to speed up work of constitution committee Government and Opposition cross swords over constitution committee The Gibraltar government and opposition have crossed swords over the constitution committee. The government says it "much regrets" a statement today by the opposition in relation to the business of the House of Assembly select committee on constitutional reform "Under the rules and conventions of parliament the business of select committees is confidential until it reports to the House. In addition the members of the select committee agreed at their first meeting that this confidentiality would be maintained. The government regrets that the opposition has lived up to neither commitment." What is still more surprising, says the government, is that, at its last meeting, the committee agreed a timetable for completion of its work which is incompatible with the opposition's public statement to day referring to the end of the year. It has also transpired that only 6 clauses remain for agreement before the proposals are finalised, with the opposition having given their views in advance so as to accelerate the work of the committee. (30.11.01) Public concern of Government's foreign affairs committee The Opposition says
it considers that there is great public concern at the composition of the Chief Minister's advisory council on foreign affairs It will be recalled that both the Preamble to the Constitution
in the 1960s and the campaign to secure British citizenship in the 1980s Liberal support for self-determination The International Federation of Liberal and Radical Youth
(IFLRY) meeting in Brussels has unanimously adopted a resolution in support of Gibraltar. The Opposition note that the Chief Minister is reported as having told the association of foreign correspondents in London that the decolonisation of Gibraltar is a matter for Gibraltar and the United Kingdom alone, and that this has got nothing to do with Spain. At the last meeting of the House of Assembly Select Committee on the Constitution which took place last Friday, the Opposition asked Mr Caruana to write to Jack Straw and tell him what he has just told the foreign correspondents. It is clear to the Opposition that the Brussels negotiating process is the framework for the decolonisation of Gibraltar in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions. This should now be self-evident to everyone given the statements made by the British and Spanish Governments. Indeed, every year London and Madrid report back to the United Nations and inform them on how the talks, which are meant to decolonise Gibraltar, are proceeding. It is clear that the Brussels process will fold the moment that Gibraltar is decolonised. The Opposition considers that there is a very clear conflict between the decolonisation of Gibraltar under the Brussels Agreement through the relaunched Anglo-Spanish negotiating process, and the decolonisation of Gibraltar through the House of Assembly Select Committee between Gibraltar and London alone. As is well known, the Opposition advocate the second route. The Opposition consider that it is self-evident that you cannot support both routes. Mr Caruana has also accused London and Madrid of intimidating and coercing Gibraltar into supporting the Anglo-Spanish proposals. He has said that the signals are that our level of prosperity and stability will be undermined if we reject the deal. The Opposition consider that this is a very serious accusation against the British Government and that Mr Caruana must reveal publicly whatever he has been told privately in order that the people of Gibraltar have the full picture. It would be disgraceful if the British Government has been threatening Mr Caruana behind the scenes, and it would make a mockery of the Preamble to the Constitution which refers to the "freely and democratically" expressed wishes of the Gibraltarians. Moreover, the United Nations itself prohibits that a colonial people be pressurised, economically or otherwise, in the manner in which Mr Caruana has suggested. The public position adopted by Jack Straw only last week is the exact opposite of what Mr Caruana is suggesting. Mr Straw said that if Gibraltar rejected the deal Britain will continue to maintain its legal, political, and moral obligations to a British Gibraltar. This was welcomed by Mr Caruana at the time. Gibraltar needs to know what Mr Caruana has been told since to make him change his mind. Mr Caruana has a duty to reveal what he knows. He has made very serious allegations against the British Government and these should be backed up with facts and dates. The Opposition will have no hesitation in standing together with the Government in order to expose the outrageous behaviour of the Foreign Office as soon we are told what has been happening behind the scenes. (29.11.01) Caruana is "danger for Gibraltar", says Zammit Describing himself as the Gibraltar European Party, Bryan Zammit says he was "astonished to see the selection of people that Mr. Caruana has chosen for his External affairs advisory committee. What was Peter Caruana thinking when he chose Sol Seruya to be on that committee when this man was the only ex politician that did not sign the declaration of unity." He adds: Another point that I feel needs to be aired is that I cannot understand how Peter Caruana could have left out Sir Bob Peliza from the newly formed committee. I sincerely believe that if the Chief Minister wants to achieve an equal balance of opinions and to come to a totally unbiased solution then he has to re think out the names of people he has chosen for his committee. I personally see a very biased selection of people on the newly formed committee, which only shows what is the true objective of Peter Caruana. He goes on to say that "It is time that the people of Gibraltar start to see that to have Peter Caruana, as
Gibraltar's Chief Minister is dangerous for us as a people. There is something that the people of Gibraltar must realise "Eloquence and Accent do not equal intelligence and foresight" I am more convinced than ever (as is the majority of Gibraltarians) that Gibraltar is in its most vulnerable position in our history as a people, and a large reason for this is because of the wishy washy and very contradictory and ambiguous way in which Peter Caruana has dealt with the seriousness of
Gibraltar's foreign affairs
problems over the last five years." (29.11.01)
Support 'Fax Foreign Office' campaign! The Mail on Sunday this week published a cut-out section for its readers
to send to the Foreign Office saying that the people of Gibraltar have the
right to remain British and that allowing the Spanish flag to fly on the
Rock would be a betrayal of Britain's history and Gibraltar's rights. Caruana and Hain before Commons' foreign affairs committee The chief minister Peter
Caruana and the Foreign Office minister Peter Hain were before the
House of Commons' foreign affairs committee on Wednesday evening.
Caruana looks at Isle of Man as Gibraltar's status The chief minister Peter Caruana has told foreign press in London that Gibraltar wants to cease to be a
colony, but retaining British sovereignty but not be a part of Britain. Opposition calls for total rejection of Brussels process On the 17th anniversary of the signing of the Brussels Agreement, which
took place yesterday, the Opposition unreservedly condemn the Brussels The Opposition considers that with each
passing day statements made by the British Government increasingly place
the onus on those Gibraltarians who have not yet rejected the Brussels
Agreement to accept the evidence that is staring them in the face and do
so. The comments made in the House of Commons yesterday by the Foreign
Secretary Jack Straw on the question of Gibraltar airport are a case in point. In the past, those who have supported Brussels have argued that this was the
Spanish and not the British interpretation. Prior to the Brussels Agreement, the United Kingdom had always defended
its title to British sovereignty over the whole of Gibraltar and not
accepted the distinction between the area covered by Utrecht and the whole
of the isthmus. The Preamble guarantees the people of Gibraltar that they
will not pass under the sovereignty of another state, whether they live in
the city walls (covered by Utrecht) or in the Glacis and Laguna area which
is on the isthmus. The Opposition have since 25 July, when the relaunch was
announced, and opposed by us analysed what was being planned as a back-door attempt at a dilution of British sovereignty through
power-sharing agreements, as revealed by Mr Pique himself. This analysis is
now being widely reflected by the international media. Foreign Secretary makes clear talks are about Gibraltar's sovereignty The UK foreign secretary Jack Straw made it clear in the House of Commons today that the Anglo-Spanish talks are to remove all differences with Spain on the issue of sovereignty. He referred to the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht which gives Spain first refusal should Britain wish to abrogate its sovereignty over the rock and added that the Spanish challenged British sovereignty over the isthmus, as a separate claim. Mr Straw further confirmed that the future of the airport, which is built on the isthmus, will feature at the negotiations with Spain. He restated the preamble to the Gibraltar constitution whereby there will be no transfer of sovereignty against the wishes of the Gibraltarians, meaning that the Gibraltarians could remain British in a British Gibraltar for as long as they want. But the present situation was unsatisfactory. He spoke of claims and counter-claims involving Spain and Gibraltar, and of Gibraltar becoming increasingly isolated. The objective was to build a stable, secure and prosperous future for Gibraltar. Conservative spokesman Michael Ancram said they would back the Gibraltarians and spoke of a slow-motion slide away from British sovereignty by the Labour government. The fear in Gibraltar was that the UK was planning a deal with Spain behind their backs. Told that Spain should pursue a policy of cooperation with Gibraltar, as the policy of harassment was counter-production from a Spanish perspective, Mr Straw said he had pressed Spain on that. The Gibraltar chief minister Peter Caruana will be appearing before the House of Commons foreign affairs committee on Wednesday when he will reply to Mr Straw's comments. The Gibraltar government is clearly incensed by what they have heard, expressing deep regret and astonishment. Fears are being
expressed that the UK appears to be legitimising Spain's legal claim
over the isthmus and that mechanisms may be introduced to give Spain
a role in Gibraltar itself, without an explicit transfer of
sovereignty. Gibraltar chief minister flying in to sovereignty row The row over the future of Gibraltar was set to deepen with the arrival in London of the colony's chief minister, reports Ananova, the London-based news agency. Peter Caruana says there is "more chance of Hell freezing over" than the people of Gibraltar accepting Spanish sovereignty in any shape or form. Following talks between Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and his Spanish counterpart Josep Pique in Barcelona, Downing Street claims there would be no change in the sovereignty of the Rock without a referendum. Mr Pique says Spain would not abandon its 300-year-old claim to Gibraltar, but Mr Straw insisted there must be consent. Mr Caruana boycotted the Barcelona talks last Tuesday because he said Britain would not allow him a veto in discussions over sovereignty. London and Madrid have 10 months to reach agreement over the future of Gibraltar and its 30,000
inhabitants. Opposition say they do not agree with Caruana's attack on pressure groups The Opposition want to make clear that it does not agree with the critical statements made by Mr Caruana against the call by the Self-Determination and Voice of Gibraltar Groups for the Select Committee to accelerate its work. The Opposition want to clarify the point that Mr Caruana's remarks were not made as Chairman of the House of Assembly Select Committee, as the Opposition Members on that Committee were not consulted, neither was the matter discusssed in Friday's meeting. The Chief Minister was therefore speaking only for the Government Members on the Select Committee. The Opposition does not share the views expressed by the Government. The action taken by the SDGG and the VOG groups on Friday was in support of the work of the Select Commmittee, not against it. The Opposition welcomes this support. n any case, it is also the Opposition's view that it is important that the Select Committee speeds up its work as a matter of urgency and that this pre-empts the negotiating process over Gibraltar's constitutional future between Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique. This need for urgency is not shared by Mr Caruana who has already gone on record as saying that he will not be rushed. In his attack on the SDGG and the VOG, Mr Caruana has said that the recommendations of the Select Committee have to be accepted by the fullHouse of Assembly. It is complete nonsense for Mr Caruana to imply that there is a risk that the proposals might not carry the support of the House. Mr Caruana can rest assured that the votes of the seven Opposition Members will be there, and all he has to do is muster the votes of the five Members of the Government who are not on the Select Committee and all of whom belong to his party. This should not be a difficult task. In a recent statement to the Spanish media Mr Pique said that the goodwill in London was such that the proposed deal over Gibraltar might well be finalised by the summer. It seems clear that Spain wishes to preempt a Gibraltar view emerging on our constitutional future, and we in turn must preempt an Anglo-Spanish view emerging. The Opposition also considers that the report of the Select Committee to the House need not be lengthy document, given that it is to be expected that our ten colleagues in the House will be guided by the recommendations made by the five members of the Committee. (27.11.01) Gay group supports constitution committee Gib Gay Rights (GGR) has said today in a statement that it welcomes the work of the Constitutional Reform Committee. "A new Constitution for Gibraltar is the first act of self-determination for our people, a historic act of nation-building, and we support the work of the Committee in its deliberations on behalf of all Gibraltarians." "With regard to lesbian and gay issues, Gibraltar is undoubtedly a tolerant and caring society - something we as a group have witnessed since the birth of the gay rights movement locally. GGR believes in a process of dialogue and information in a reasonable and democratic manner avoiding militancy and extremism. The people of Gibraltar are one people and we have faith in the democratic process of negotiation at all levels." "Furthermore, the gay and lesbian community of Gibraltar are reasonable and peace-loving individuals participating fully in a society of tolerance. GGR welcomes the wide-ranging support of the majority of reasonable people of all statuses across the community and whose main aim is to live in peace and harmony." "The work of GGR is primarily to foster reason, tolerance and understanding and is opposed to extremism of any sort," the statement ended.(27.11.01) Government "will not permit" pressure groups dictating pace of constitution committee The government will not permit pressure groups dictating the pace at which the constitution committee does its work. And the chief minister Peter Caruana has warned that these issues are "too important" to be dealt with in this manner. A government press release rejects the statements made by the SDGG and Voice of Gibraltar group that they will press the select committee of the House of Assembly to accelerate completion of its work, and that for that purpose plan to demonstrate during the committee's scheduled meeting on 3 December. "The speed with which the committee does its work is a matter for its members. It is not for the SDGG or Voice of Gibraltar to dictate to the House of Assembly the pace or manner at which it does its work. The government will not permit this to happen, nor will the government agree to hold meetings of the select committee under attempted pressure of demonstration whilst it sits doing its work," says the statement. Speaking from London, Mr Caruana said: "I am surprised at the latest statement from the SDGG and Voice of Gibraltar group. This is not their proper role. These issues are simply too important to be dealt with in this manner. The committee will complete its work in the manner and speed decided by the committee in its judgement of what is best in Gibraltar's interests. Similarly what occurs after the committee has submitted its report to the full House of Assembly is a matter for the House and for the Government." (26.11.01) Government 'stalling since 1999' writing to UN on new constitution, says Opposition The Government has been stalling since 1999 writing to the UN on the new non-colonial constitution for Gibraltar, the Opposition disclosed today. It has emerged that the opposition members in the select committee raised last Friday the question of writing to the UN to formally engage them in the process of achieving a constitution which meets UN criteria to be acceptable as non-colonial. This question was raised originally at the first meeting of the select committee in 1999 and the government side agreed then to consider the matter. At the second meeting towards the end of 1999, the government confirmed that it would be taking a decision and producing a draft rely to transmit to the UN. Although the matter has been raised on a number of occasions, "regrettably this has not yet happened," said the opposition, adding that at last Friday's meeting a draft reply was again promised. They add: Now that the committee is about to complete the text of the new constitution, the opposition believes that it is very important to bring the UN into the picture and that this last opportunity should not be missed. This is specially so since the Spanish foreign minister Sr Pique has recently revealed that he has written to the UN secretary general to inform him of the relaunched Brussels talks, "which clearly are being promoted as the only avenue for our country's decolonisation," says the opposition. Mr Caruana has also been asked to write on behalf of the joint committee, as its chairman, to the foreign secretary, rejecting the position he has proposed publicly, of submitting the committee's proposals through the Brussels process, giving Spain a say.(26.11.01)
Hain and Caruana at loggerheads Foreign Office minister Peter Hain has clashed with chief minister Peter Caruana, accusing Caruana of “prejudging the results of Britain’s talks with Spain.” He also criticised the chief minister’s decision to boycott last week’s talks.
Concern about Constitution and Foreign Affairs committees
The group adds that
the Select Committee has now been constituted for over two years and has only met on a handful of occasions.
"We cannot bury our heads in the sand and pretend that Gibraltar has not been plunged into a crisis by the events of the last months. We believe that the Select Committee should be more proactive and willing to conclude its deliberations sooner. It really should not be taking us this long to come up with proposals that would enable us to argue that we should be de-listed as a colony whilst retaining our links with
Britain," they say. The Labour Group
says it is "seriously concerned" about the composition of the External Affairs Advisory Council and, in particular, by its glaring exclusions. There are some extremely experienced former politicians and other members of the community who have been staunch defenders of Gibraltar that have been inexplicably left out. It appears that some of these glaring omissions happen to coincide with their opposition to our participation at Brussels talks. In order to carry people with it, the Government has to appear to want to receive advise from its biggest critics as well as its staunchest
supporters.(26.11.01)
Women going places At a well attended Extraordinary General Meeting last week a new committee was elected and Mrs Kim Karnani-Santos was elected chairwoman and Mrs Geraldine Pitaluga Lancaster was elected vice chairwoman. Aliz, the worm, grips Gibraltar Aliz the worm is spreading in Gibraltar- and how! This is a non-destructive worm that propagates email addresses.
The risk rating by Trend is 'low'. Gibraltar will reject Anglo-Spanish deal, says Bossano The leader of the opposition Joe Bossano said on Saturday evening that it is possible that London and Madrid may sign an agreement following the Barcelona talks, but that it will be impossible that it be accepted by Gibraltarians at a referendum. Wearing a tie with the Gibraltar and UK flags imprinted on it, Mr Bossano told television viewers in Spain that the UK and Spanish foreign ministers are looking after their interests and not the interests of Gibraltar. Taking part with him in the programme (TVE2) was Patricio Gonzalez, mayor of the Spanish town of Algeciras across Gibraltar bay. He could not understand how Gibraltar had been offered hospital services by the Spanish foreign minister when there are even demonstrations in the Spanish area next to Gibraltar clamouring for better services and more beds in their hospitals. Mr Bossano said that no one can be against mutually beneficial cooperation, but you do not need a referendum for that. But what Madrid wanted was cooperation in exchange for advances on sovereignty. "The sovereignty of Gibraltar is with the Gibraltarians," he asserted. The UK prime minister Tony Blair wanted the Spanish vote in Europe, and in exchange he would offer the Spaniards a deal on Gibraltar. For Sr Gonzalez, Gibraltar is Andalusian territory. However, he agreed that the steps announced in Barcelona cannot be taken in just 6 months. He spoke of the anti-Spanish sentiments that had been provoked in Gibraltar by the frontier closure, and how people were upset at having to queue up for 3 hours at the frontier. The process must start with cooperation, added Sr Gonzalez. For Mr Bossano, nothing was possible under the context of the Barcelona communiqué. Gibraltar wanted its right to self-determination recognised, if need be the International Court of Justice could decide. When Sr Gonzalez said he wanted direct flights between Madrid-Gibraltar, Mr Bossano said he could have them tomorrow - but not subject to a sovereignty deal. (24.11.01) Referendum choice free of reprisals? Letters continue to pour into newspaper
offices in the UK from Gibraltarians and others expressing views and reacting to what may have been published. Former Gibraltar minister Maurice Xiberras asks Tony Blair in The Independent if the Gibraltarians will be able to vote in the proposed referendum without coercion or fear or reprisal. Tackle other issues apart from sovereignty, says Andalusian chief The president of the Andalusian government Manuel Chaves says that the Anglo-Spanish talks on Gibraltar should tackle other issues apart from sovereignty. He wants progress on the joint use of the Gibraltar airport, the removal of tax havens and the need to establish cultural, educational and health links between both sides of the frontier fence,. Speaking on Spanish radio (COPE), he thought the reopening of negotiations was an important move. If there is to be a referendum so that the Gibraltar population can decide, it was essential that the chief minister Peter Caruana should join the talks, suggesting that a formula be found, and adding that the representatives of the Campo area adjacent to Gibraltar should also attend the talks. (24.11.01)
It has been decided that the time is right for the foreign secretary to begin talks on Gibraltar. The weather's suddenly turned cold here and it's still quite sunny in southern Spain. All sorts of wider discussions have been put on the
agenda, writes John O'Farrell in The Guardian (Saturday).
Opponents of surrendering sovereignty insist that Britain has a right to Gibraltar under the Treaty of Utrecht. The same treaty handed Sardinia to the Austro-Hungarian empire and ceded Sicily to Savoy. This week the government of Savoy was saying nothing. The settlement in 1713 also ensured that British companies had a monopoly on the transportation of African slaves to the Spanish colonies. Only a handful of Tory MPs still argue that these rights should be upheld today. Constitution committee expects to complete reform next month The House of Assembly select committee on constitutional reform expects to complete its deliberations next month. This follows a 3-hour meeting on Friday which was held whilst a crowd gathered outside the House demanding "progress NOW". Chief minister Peter Caruana said there has been 'good progress' made. He gave a timescale of January/February for the proposals to be presented to the House. Opposition leader Joe Bossano said that gaps in certain areas had been narrowed, and now about half-a-dozen clauses remained. He hoped that a unanimous decision could be taken on the reforms. But the Self-Determination Group expressed concern that the work was still not complete, given the serious threat now faced by the Gibraltarians following the meeting in Barcelona this week which concluded with Britain and Spain agreeing to work on a package of measures. But protestors here this evening were against any referendum being held on anything except the proposals of the House of Assembly once they emerge. All eyes now are on 3 December when the constitution committee is due to meet again in what is expected to be the final meeting prior to the final text being put before the House. (23.11.01) Spanish government questions Gibraltar referendum The Spanish government has questioned the right of Gibraltarians to decide their future in a referendum and says that the Rock will become Spain's at some point. Soon after the Gibraltar talks in Barcelona, the Spanish foreign minister said: "Negotiations between two sovereign states cannot be subsumed to the will of 30,000 Gibraltarians. The opinion of 30,000 people will not dictate the will of the two sovereign states." A report in the Daily telegraph notes that the statement contradicts British Government assurances that any deal must be agreed by Gibraltar's population in a referendum. But a Foreign Office spokesman alluded that Pique's remarks were no doubt intended for domestic consumption. (23.11.01) No cooperation without sovereignty progress, says Spanish foreign ministry The head of the information department at the Spanish foreign ministry Alberto Aza has said that there cannot be cooperation with progress on Spain's sovereignty claim. And he said that even the promise of more telephone lines and hospital facilities was conditioned to acceptance by Britain to resolve the sovereignty issue. Sr Aza recognised the existence of a radical change in the British position as to what Gibraltar's presence at the talks signifies. He spoke of a series of proposals over questions of sovereignty and cooperation. He added that self-determination was contrary to international norms. If the sovereignty question was resolved, the cooperation that would ensue would be good for Gibraltar, and by extension, to the Spanish border town of La Linea and the rest of the Campo area, he told a Spanish radio station. The airport question formed part of the negotiations and will be solved, he added. (23.11.01)
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