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Gibraltar is a stone in my shoe, Zapatero tells Blair
The Spanish socialist leader Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero held a hand-shaking exercise with Prime Minister Tony Blair in No.10 Downing Street, to briefly explain to him that Gibraltar was a stone in his shoe.
It is not known if Blair told him that, if the sovereignty deal goes through, in future it will be half a stone...
Apart from telling Blair what he already knew - do you need a meeting to be told what you already know? - Zapatero was making it clear that on the Gibraltar issue they agreed with the Aznar government.
Since the Aznar government itself doesn't know whether it is coming or going over the deal, Zapatero cannot be too sure what he is supposed to be supporting. He did say that he expected that the great expectations over the planned deal would materialise.
The courtesy call was heralded in a Spanish medium as an important visit; in Britain, it did not make the headlines anywhere, almost as if Zapatero had not been there.
He was, however, full of praise for Blair, seeing him as the pivot for the European left. New Labour was the point of reference for budding socialist politicians, who would stumble over the rock if they ever got into power- unless and until they realise that the wishes of the people is a paramount consideration.
I.L.F. challenges proposed
E.U. directives
The I.L.F. has critically remarked on several proposed EU directives. These are intended to 'liberalise'the system whereby medical and other professionals qualified in one EU state can practice for up to four months without registration in any other state. The Party has linked its comments to its previously-expressed reservations about the methods of scrutiny and reference checking for medical personnel employed in Gibraltar.
The ILF states that it supports the call by the GMC (General Medical Council), General Dental Council and Royal Pharmaceutical Societies of Britain and N. Ireland, to oppose the proposed Directives on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications.
Specific articles within the mooted directives make it clear that professionals in one member state would be permitted to practice in another without registration for up to 16 weeks. If passed, would these directives be applicable in Gibraltar as well as our EU 'member state', the U.K.? Almost certainly, says the ILF.
The Party says it has attempted to discuss this matter with the local GHA. However, every time they contacted the Authority they were told there was no one in the building at present who had the competence or authority to discuss the matter. Hopefully that situation has now improved.
"This whole matter" says the Party "is undoubtedly of great concern to everyone in Gibraltar. Surely we need to maintain and strengthen the checks and controls in professional Registration rather than undermining them, which is what these EU proposals would effectively do."
Blair and Straw 'hell-bent on selling Gibraltar'
Fear that Blair would not forgive a Blair attack on Labour
SPECIAL for PANORAMA
By Ian Drury, at the Conservative Party conference
Bournemouth Wednesday.
NEGOTIATIONS between the British and Spanish governments over the future of Gibraltar should be abandoned immediately, the Conservative shadow foreign secretary said today.
In a rousing speech to the Tory Party conference, Michael Ancram demanded that any agreements between the two countries to share sovereignty of the Rock should be torn up and binned.
And he insisted the Conservatives would never "sell out" Gibraltar.
Mr Ancram said: "I tell you, an incoming Conservative Government will not be bound by any agreement with Spain that has not received the democratic consent of the people of Gibraltar."
He said Prime Minister Tony Blair and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw were "hell-bent on selling Gibraltar out."
The Labour Government was trying to "browbeat" the Rock's citizens into sharing sovereignty.
Mr Ancram said: "The fact is these talks with Spain have reached a dead end.
"They should immediately be suspended.
"And any agreement between the two governments, whether in principle or otherwise, should be declared null and void as if it had never existed."
Mr Ancram also criticised Mr Straw for saying he would ignore the referendum by the people of Gibraltar on its sovereignty.
Gibraltar chief minister Peter Caruana decision to make a speech to the Conservative conference was slammed last week by furious Labour MPs who warned against turning the fight to block a deal to shared sovereignty into a "party political issue".
But many ordinary Labour party members are unhappy about the talks - with around 2,500 people at last week's party conference in Blackpool signed a petition opposing a deal with Spain.
Some Labour MPs fear Mr Blair would never abandon the talks if Mr Caruana attacked him from the platform of a rival political party.
No handover of sovereignty to Spain
Gibraltar's chief minister Peter Caruana told delegates he was determined the territory would not hand over any sovereignty to Spain.
He accused the British Government of trying to coerce and seduce Gibraltar's 30,000 citizens into accepting shared sovereignty.
And he said Labour's refusal to listen to the people of Gibraltar made a mockery of it's reputation as a democracy.
He said many other former colonies had exercised their right to decide on their future -and so should Gibraltar.
To applause, Mr Caruana said: "Gibraltar is part of the British home and we intend to stay that way.
"We believe it is a violation of our human rights as a colonial people not to allow us to decide our own future.
"We will not be sacrificed on the great altar of some other political pragmatism."
Congress on Marine Biology
Final Preparations are being made for the organisation of the 12th Iberian Symposium of Benthic Ecology which will be held simultaneously in Gibraltar and La Linea between the 22nd and the 25th October.
This is the first time ever this bi-annual Symposium is being held at a border region, and for this reason the congress is the 1st Trans-border Congress on Marine Biology. The First and Second circulars have attracted much interest with over two hundred participants expected to attend.
Researchers from a number of universities and institutions have confirmed their attendance and will be expected to present and discuss the results of their recent scientific investi-gations. The Congress will be officially inaugurated by Dr Bernard Linares, Minister for Culture, on Tuesday 22nd October, and will run for four days, ending in La Linea on the Friday Afternoon.
As part of a series of events planned for the wider public in attempt to heighten awareness on Marine Biology and its conversation, Jose Carlos Garcia Gomez, Director of Seville University’s Marine Biology Department, will be giving a public talk entitled ‘La Diversidad de la vida del Mar: Presente y Futuro’ at the John Mackintosh Hall, followed by the opening of an exhibition of his underwater photographs entitled ‘Are art and science Incompatible?’
Why we must tell Spain what we think
The Opposition say they condemn the comments against the Gibraltar referendum made by the Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio. This follows similar comments made by the Spanish representative at the United Nations as the 4th Committee approved a new consensus urging the continuation of the Brussels negotiating process over Gibraltar.
Speaking in Madrid after an appearance before the EU Affairs Committee of the Spanish Parliament, Ana Palacio said that the referendum in Gibraltar was "irrelevant" and that "it does not have any legal significance" if it goes ahead.
It shows how out of touch she is with reality firstly that she seems to believe she can get her hands on Gibraltar by doing a deal with Straw, and secondly that Gibraltar may not even have the referendum.
ESSENCE OF DEMOCRACY
The Opposition totally reject the analysis given by the Spanish Foreign Minister. A people freely and democratically expressing their view through the medium of the secret ballot is the very essence of democracy itself and can never be "irrelevant". It is what self-determination means and the central mechanism through any democratic decolonisation must take place.
The comments made by Ana Palacio do no credit to whatever standing she may have had as a democrat.
The Opposition add: Moreover, it is also absurd to say that the referendum in Gibraltar will have no legal standing. It will have the standing of being formally called by the Parliament of Gibraltar which includes all the elected representatives of the people of Gibraltar. The legal weight and authority of the people and Parliament of Gibraltar is all that is required for the views of the electorate to become known.
Furthermore, the last referendum in Gibraltar was called by the colonial power through an order in council. A referendum called by the Parliament of Gibraltar would surely have a more solid democratic foundation.
Ana Palacio's comments follow the statement made by her representative before the UN 4th Committee in New York, who said that the referendum in Gibraltar "lacked any legal foundation" and was consequently devoid of any validity or effect. He added that the referendum "contravened the annual decisions of the General Assembly urging both countries to continue their negotiations towards a definitive solution."
WISHES
This reaffirms the view that the Brussels negotiations, to which the Spanish representative referred, contravenes our right to self-determination. Ana Palacio and the Spanish Government should know that the Charter of the United Nations, and various UN Covenants, uphold that the wishes of a colonial people are sacroscant when it comes to their decolonisation.
The Opposition therefore condemn the continuing hard line coming from Madrid and the continuing denial of the basic political and human rights of the people of Gibraltar by Spain. This makes it all the more important that people turn out in large numbers for the referendum on 7 November in order to tell Spain and Ms Palacio what we think.
£2.5 million compensation
A sixteen year old boy who suffers from severe cerebral palsy was awarded £2,500,000 in damages by the Supreme Court yesterday.
Steven Zayas was born at St Bernard’s Hospital on the 4th September 1986. His condition arises from a number of errors made during his delivery.
His parents issued proceedings claiming damages for negligence in 1999 and in court yesterday his counsel Charles A Gomez described his current condition. His disability is almost complete. He is totally dependent on others and will be for the rest of his life and requires round the clock specialist care and attention.
Because of the absence of proper facilities in Gibraltar, Steven has been a resident at a special school in England since 1997. With the damages awarded, his parents John and Susan Zayas intend to put in place a full care regime in Gibraltar in specially adapted housing to enable him to return here.
The first day of this week’s hearing was spent in argument. The Gibraltar Health Authority was represented by London QC Robin De Wilde assisted by Crown Counsel. Mr Gomez was assisted by barrister Ms Amber Turner.
In open court the Gibraltar Health Authority’s QC extended apologies to the boy and the family for the tragic events that occurred at his birth. These, he said, had touched his and his family’s lives, particularly that of his mother. He paid tribute to the care given to the child by his mother and rest of his family.
Former GSD minister Montegriffo accused of being “an unashamed supporter of the Brussels process without any conditions”
Former GSD minister Peter Montegriffo has been accused of being "an unashamed supporter of the Brussels process without any conditions". It comes after Mr Montegriffo made certain comments at a conference in Spain. It took place at Altea, Alicante.
The Labour Party says that it is "totally unacceptable" for him to attend a conference in Spain to put forward views that are "heavily tainted with political bias" at a time when Gibraltar is trying to defend its legal and political rights just weeks before the referendum.
"Peter Montegriffo is an unashamed supporter of the Brussels Process without any conditions and has every right to express his views publicly whether in Gibraltar or Spain. What is totally unacceptable is for Mr Montegriffo to attend a conference in Spain to put forward views that are heavily tainted with political bias at a time when Gibraltar is trying to defend its legal and political rights internationally and barely a few weeks before the Referendum, says the party.
To suggest, as he does, that Gibraltar and the Campo economies are "working below capacity" is no doubt sweet music to the ears of the Foreign Office who over the last 18 months have been trying to convince us all of the many economic benefits and huge growth potential that Joint Sovereignty will bring to Gibraltar and Campo Area.
Labour's Bill Pisani adds: "Mr Montegriffo talks about the creation of a new political and social dimension, which permits the Gibraltar and Campo Area for the first time to develop this potential. Until last year, supporters of the Brussels Process also mantained that Gibraltar could participate in a process of cross-frontier cooperation and mutual economic benefit whilst leaving matters of sovereignty to one side. Given the events of the last 18 months, Mr Montegriffo must be the only Gibraltarian that still believes this and he should explain publicly the basis for this assertion.
AIRPORT
"His remarks on the Gibraltar airport are even more extraordinary. He maintains that with goodwill and trust joint use of the airport should be possible without anyone advancing or conceding historical positions on sovereignty. It is precisely because the UK and Spanish Government's have shown no goodwill or trust in their dealing with Gibraltar that the question of joint-use of the airport cannot be reopened at a governmental level or indeed why open agenda dialogue on any issue is not possible.
"Equally remarkable are Mr Montegriffo's assertion about re-establishment of maritime contacts. As an unashamed supporter of the Brussels Process without any conditions on the part of the Gibraltar Government, Mr. Montegriffo should know that it is the central Spanish Government that has consistently refused to re-establish maritime contacts Gibraltar and the Campo Area even though this was a stated objective under the Brussels Agreement.
'POLITICAL GAFFE'
"He further recalls his experience of being Minister for Commerce and Development in 1996-2000 in the Gibraltar Government. Mr. Montegriffo should be reminded that during this time he dished out incredible propaganda about the banking industry being the strongest sector of the economy, only to preside over three banks leaving and a few others on the verge of doing so.
"Another "political gaffe" of Mr Montegriffo in Office was during a GBC interview and whilst attempting to jump on the bandwagon of the UK led growth in the betting sector, when as an example of Gibraltar-Campo co-operation Mr Montegriffo retorted that we should consider the public invitation of the then mayor of La Linea to house the very many workers that Gibraltar would attract as a result of record levels of growth expected in this industry. Less than two years later, the UK changed its own fiscal regime, and Ladbrokes, Carols and others decided to relocate a substantial part of their operations. The rest is history."
Referendum must signal end to any future sovereignty negotiations
The Opposition will be supporting the motion calling the referendum on 7 November when it is tabled before the House of Assembly on Monday. It is important that the poll is high and that the rejection is high, and the Opposition urge voters to go out and give a resounding "No" to Ana Palacio and Jack Straw next month.
The Opposition was given advance notice of the terms of the motion by the Government. "It is no secret that we would have preferred a referendum to have taken place earlier and with the choice of two options which we advocated in November last year. However, because it is important to have unanimity in Gibraltar, the Opposition will be voting in support of the motion so that it reflects the collective view of the elected representatives of the people and the Parliament of Gibraltar," said a Press release from the Alliance.
The Opposition is confident, as the Leader of the Opposition Joe Bossano himself has just told the 4th Committee of the United Nations, that those rejecting a sovereignty deal with Spain this time round will be greater than the 12,138 who voted against Madrid in 1967. However, there is no room for complacency. It is dangerous to think that people do not need to bother vote because the outcome is predictable. Every single vote will make a difference and every single vote will count.
VOTING LIST
The second draft list of voters has now been published and people should go and check to see whether they are included, and bring to the notice of the Registration Officer persons who are included in the list who should not be there.
The significance of the referendum will run deeper than simply rejecting joint-sovereignty with Spain. On the back of a resounding rejection, the British Government will have no authority to hold any further discussions to entertain Spain's sovereignty claim as they are required to do under the terms of the Brussels agreement. This means that the sovereignty of Gibraltar should never again be a matter for negotiation with Spain, unless the people of Gibraltar, in another referendum, give their prior approval to the commencement of such negotiations.
The Opposition is convinced that the referendum will serve not just to derail the Anglo-Spanish negotiating process, but also to close the door once and for all on any future sovereignty negotiations with Madrid. This makes a high turnout and a high "No" vote all the more important.
Watching the birds go by
The European Birdwatch events took place this weekend. Until Sunday 8pm in 20 countries, ion 662 spots, 36555 visitors participated on the event initiated by BirdLife International (altogether 31 European countries organised EBW events).
In Gibraltar events centered at the Botanic Gardens on Saturday morning, Europa Point on Saturday afternoon, and throughout the Rock on Sunday when there was also an expedition into Spain towards the Guadalquivir.
The weekend started at around 6am on Saturday with observers on the Upper Rock spotted Scops Owls and two species of nightjar. Birds were ringed at both the Alameda and at the Field Centre at Jews' Gate. At the Gardens a Kinfisher caught and ringed was the highlight of the ringing. There was also a display of birds of prey from the rehabilitation centre at the Open Air Theatre.
A total of nearly 5000 birds were counted by GONHS over the weekend. These included a very rare Lesser Spotted Eagle over the Rock on the Saturday and three Temminck's Stints, rare visitors from the Artcic on the Guadalquivir's Brazo del Este on the Sunday.
This international event aims at bring birds and nature to people, and the results prove that once again it has succeeded.
Referendum question
The Gibraltar referendum, to be held on 7 November, will ask the question "Do you approve of the principle that Britain and Spain should share sovereignty over Gibraltar?"
The question will also draw attention to the British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw having made a formal statement in the House of Commons last July saying that "after twelve months of negotiation the British Government and Spain are in broad agreement on many of the principles that should underpin a lasting settlement of Spain's sovereignty claim, which included the principle that Britain and Spain should share sovereignty over Gibraltar." After recalling this statement, the electorate will be asked the question.
The holding of the referendum will be formally approved in the House of Assembly next Monday, when the Chief Minister Peter Caruana will present a motion which discloses the list of observers who will be supervising the referendum.
There will be 25 observers, with the former British minister Gerald Kaufman as chairman. Kaufman is from the Labour party.
Observers also come from the British Isles and Mediterranean region of the
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association; the House of Commons all-party Gibraltar group; the House of Commons foreign affairs committee; the Electoral Reform Society; the Chartered Institute of Journalists and British Trades Unions.
Eligible to vote at the referendum will be resident Gibraltarians, resident British Overseas Territories Citizens by virtue of a connection with Gibraltar, and other British Nationals who have been resident in Gibraltar for not less than ten years.
Mr Caruana spoke yesterday of "the vital importance" of the referendum and urged all entitled voters to cast a vote on 7 November. The first draft list of voters has now been produced.
In his parliamentary motion, Mr Caruana recalls another motion passed unanimously in March this year which declares the "total opposition to any sovereignty concessions being offered to Spain against our wishes."
Plan for San Roque to hold its own Referendum!
There are plans in San Roque to hold a symbolic referendum when Gibraltar holds its own.
The population there will be asked if Gibraltar should be integrated in Spain.
Rumours of such a plan exploded at a weekend conference held in Almeria and is said to have provoked uproar from a strong delegation from the Gibraltar Government who were taking part in the event.
CONTEMPLATED
A reporter from the Spanish daily ABC asked about the rumours. An official from San Roque, Antonio Perez Giron, said he was aware of the rumours and that such a possibility was being contemplated.
This was followed by a question being put to education/health minister Dr Bernard Linares, who was taking part in the event. He was asked about the reaction of the Gibraltar government to such a referendum in San Roque.
Dr Linares was upset that the question should have been asked, he was not in a position to say, and added that the question did not fall within the conference agenda.
But Perez Giron, the San Roque official, interjected that a journalist in a democratic country can ask what he considers convenient.
However, the mayor of Los Barrios Alonso Rojas was against such a referendum, adding that the sovereignty question should be separated from that of cooperation between both sides of the frontier. The Campo union leader Miguel Alberto Diaz took a similar view.
The conference was organised by the University of King Juan Carlos.
It is not thought that the participation from Gibraltar had been announced previously by the Gibraltar government.
San Roque likes to say that the real Gibraltarians reside there, as they were expelled from Gibraltar during the British conquest in 1704.
This led to Gibraltar withdrawing from the strait sporting event in the summer.
That they are even considering to hold a referendum, however symbolic, shows to what extent a weakening of the British position in Gibraltar could well be exploited by those in San Roque who say they are the genuine Gibraltarians.
Shadows cast over island in the sun
The Opposition says it has received representations from members of the public who have expressed concern at the proposal for the development of a residental "island" complex partly built on reclaimed land opposite Queensway Quay marina. Opposition spokesman for Trade and Industry Dr Joseph Garcia has tabled six questions on the subject for the coming meeting of the House of Assembly which takes place this month.
In the Gibraltar Gazette of 26 September, a Town Planning Notice was published informing the public that a developer was applying for planning permission to construct 19 townhouses, commercial units and a new reporting berth in front of Queensway Quay marina. This also involved part demolition of the existing breakwater and land reclamation. The public were given 21 days to make representations about this application for planning permission to the Development and Planning Commission.
Some copies of the representations made by members of the public have been made available to the Opposition, which has decided to take the matter to the House of Assembly.
Dr Garcia will raise several of the issues that have been put forward by members of the public. He will seek information from the Government as to how this planned project came about in relation to the application for planning permission having been made for that area. It is also important to establish the environmental impact of the project and whether an assessment will be carried out. The Opposition will also want to know who owns the strip of land which is planned to serve as the access point to the planned development as well as issues relating to traffic and yacht access.
In addition to this, Dr Garcia will also ask the Government in what timescale the development and planning commssion is expected to take a view on the application.
The Opposition consider that the information supplied in answer to questions in the coming meeting of the House of Assembly, which opens on 14 October, will serve to shed light on some of the concerns and clarify the policy of the Government in relation to this issue.
UN resolution on Gibraltar passed - again!
The UN resolution on Gibraltar has again been passed as a consensus motion requiring no voting.
In the UN record of the proceeding, it states that the terms of the draft decision on the question of Gibraltar (document A/C.4/57/L.4), the Assembly would take note of the fact that, as part of the Brussels negotiating process, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Spain and the United Kingdom hold annual meetings alternately in each country, the most recent of which were held in Barcelona on 20 November 2001 and in London on 4 February 2002. It would urge both Governments to continue their negotiations with the object of reaching a definitive solution to the problem of Gibraltar in light of relevant General Assembly resolutions and in the spirit of the United Nations Charter.
SPANISH VIEW
ROMÁN OYARZÚN MARCHESÍ (Spain) said that, in the context of the General Assembly resolution urging the Governments of Spain and the United Kingdom to continue their negotiations aimed at reaching a definitive solution to the question of Gibraltar, talks resumed on 26 July 2001 between the two Governments in the framework of the "Brussels process", established by them in 1984 to solve their differences. On 20 November 2001, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the two countries confirmed, in a Joint Communiqué, their aim to conclude an overall agreement that would cover all outstanding issues, with the shared objective of granting Gibraltar a modern, sustainable status.
He said that in the second ministerial meeting on 4 February, the Ministers adopted a new Joint Communiqué, in which they reiterated their shared objective. That negotiating process had received the full support of the European Union. The Union's Heads of State and Government assembled in the European Council in Barcelona on 15 and 16 March had underlined in their conclusions their support of the commitment of both Governments to overcome their differences over Gibraltar and to conclude a comprehensive agreement. One week later, those conclusions were endorsed by the European Parliament.
In the last ministerial meeting, both Governments invited the Chief Minister of Gibraltar to attend the meetings on the basis of the "two flags, three voices" formula, he recalled. The Chief Minister, who had so far declined such invitations, had recently adopted a unilateral initiative to hold consultations in Gibraltar. That lacked any legal foundation and, consequently, was devoid of any validity or effect. The Spanish Government wished to refer in the Committee to the fact that any initiative of that sort contravened the annual decisions of the General Assembly urging both countries to continue their negotiations towards a definitive solution. Further, the British Government, in its capacity as administering Power, had neither called for nor endorsed such a consultation.
The Committee then took up the draft decision on the question of Gibraltar, approving that text without a vote.
NOT SATISFIED
The representative of Saint Lucia said he was not entirely satisfied with the decision, but he had decided to join consensus. The representative of Spain had indicated today that his Government had sought a comprehensive, satisfactory agreement that took into account the legitimate interests of the residents of that colony. He would have preferred that the text just adopted had taken note of all aspects of the situation, including negotiations between Spain and the United Kingdom, and the actions of people of Gibraltar.
In July, he noted, the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom had said that, following 12 months of negotiations, his country and Spain were in broad agreement on the main principles underpinning a lasting settlement, including shared sovereignty over Gibraltar, which should retain its institutions and, if it chose, participate fully in the European Union's activities. He had further stated that the United Kingdom and Spain had not settled all their differences, including those with respect to co-sovereignty.
UK VIEW
Speaking in explanation of vote, the representative of the United Kingdom said he was pleased to support the consensus. He drew the Committee’s attention to the British Overseas Territory Act, which had this year received Parliament’s approval. The act had changed the nomenclature to the British Overseas Territories. The changes were made to reflect the United Kingdom’s key commitment in the 1999 “White Paper to Grant British Citizenship to Peoples of its Overseas Territories”. The British Government also set environmental targets for each of the Territories and action plans were being prepared in each of the Territories.
The representative of Spain said he had joined the consensus in support of the resolution. Spain supported the principle of self-determination for the Territories included in the resolution. There were certain cases, such as Gibraltar, where the principle of territorial integrity must be implemented pursuant to a number of General Assembly resolutions.
Right of reply
The representative of the United Kingdom, responding to the remarks made today by the representative of Spain, said that talks over the past year had made significant progress over the shared goal of settling the dispute in Gibraltar and providing a successful future for the people there. The present referendum was a local initiative, in which the British Government was not involved. It was not clear what purpose that referendum would serve, but the principle of Gibraltar's consent was central to his country's approach. If agreement could be reached on a comprehensive settlement, the whole package would be put before the people of Gibraltar and they would decide.
Chief Minister off
to Tory Conference
The chief minister Peter Caruana left Gibraltar yesterday evening to attend the Conservative Party conference in Bournemouth today and Wednesday, he returns on Thursday.
While there, he is scheduled to address a fringe meeting today and the conference on Wednesday, said a Government spokesman.
As revealed in PANORAMA last Friday, the Government has now confirmed that a Gibraltar petition at last week's Labour conference attracted some 3,000 signatures.
The petition was headed Keep Gibraltar British - the People of Gibraltar seek your support.
It said that the people of Gibraltar want Gibraltar's sovereignty to remain exclusively British. It went on to refer to the statement by Jack Straw about joint sovereignty.
Only the people of Gibraltar can decide the future of Gibraltar in accordance with their right to self-determination. It called on the British government not to negotiate and surrender any part of the sovereignty of Gibraltar, whether actually or in principle, against the wishes of the people of Gibraltar and without their consent.
Britain to share £3 billion from sunken warship off Gibraltar
Odyssey Marine Exploration, a leader in the field of deep ocean shipwreck exploration, has signed an exclusive partnering agreement with the United Kingdom Government concerning the shipwreck of the British warship HMS Sussex, which is laden with gold and silver worth an estimated £3 billion.
The ground-breaking agreement was designed to capitalize on the strengths of both parties and covers all aspects of the project, ranging from the archaeological excavation and conservation of artifacts and cargo, to publication, exhibition, and marketing. This is the first time in history that any government has reached an agreement of this type with the private sector for the archaeological excavation of a sovereign warship.
Odyssey Marine Exploration conducted search operations for HMS Sussex in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001. During the 2001 expedition, Odyssey examined one site in detail that had many of the characteristics of the Sussex and recovered several artifacts for identification purposes. An archaeological report was prepared by archaeologist Neil Cunningham Dobson and was delivered to the United Kingdom Government in September, 2001. Since that time, the UK and Odyssey have been diligently working to develop this ground-breaking partnering agreement, which has taken longer than expected because nothing like it has ever been drawn up before.
A senior UK Ministry of Defence spokesperson in London stated: "This is a unique project, and it is believed that this is the first time anywhere in the world, where a sovereign government and the private sector have agreed to work in partnership to manage a project of this nature."
HMS Sussex was a large 80-gun English warship lost in a severe storm in 1694. The story of her mission and place in the unfolding events of the late 17th and early 18th centuries presents a fascinating scenario to archaeologists, historians, and those with a general interest in European and international developments.
Built in the reign of William and Mary, HMS Sussex was escorting a large merchant fleet to the Mediterranean when she was lost. Research indicates that her Admiral also had orders to pay a large sum of money to the Duke of Savoy to continue the war against France. Evidence suggests that the payment, most likely consisting of tons of gold coins, was lost with the ship. Further exploration and excavation of the shipwreck site believed to be HMS Sussex will begin as soon as the Project Plan is approved, financing is finalized and the appropriate vessel, equipment and personnel are mobilized. At more than half a mile below the surface of the Mediterranean, it will be the deepest archaeological excavation of a Colonial era shipwreck ever undertaken.
The UK Ministry of Defence Disposal Services Agency Project Leader in London stated: "We look forward to working with Odyssey on this important project."
Scandal of Gibraltar office in Madrid
In another exclusive report, PANORAMA reveals today that the Gibraltar Government office in Madrid is CLOSED.
The office is said to have been closed since last year but silence has reigned supreme as if the top boys in the tourism department are too ashamed to admit this glaring failure in the much - trumpeted Government tourist strategy. Or absence of it. as regards Spain, it seems.
It is scandalous that what has long been presented as a vital part of the tourism department's selling and marketing policy to attract longer - stay tourists from Spain, should he closed. And without any explanation being released to the unsuspecting public.
EXPENSIVE CHAOS
It would appear to be symptomatic of the chaotic situation that reigns supreme within the so-called Gibraltar Tourist board, which is costing the public in excess of 3 million a year.
People are rightly asking what the myriad of top well-paid officials do all day in the tourism department.
It may have been wrong to have reduced the department to skeletal proportions in the past, but it may he equally wrong to have gone to the other extreme and built another empire - especially an empire which is not delivering the kind of results the public expects and demands.
Some top managers, like the Chief Executive Peter Canessa were given the top jobs without having the necessary, top - flight experience in the specialist tourist field.
EXPENSIVE TRAVELS
Not only is the Madrid office 'closed until further notice" but highly-paid officials from Gibraltar are travelling~ there every so often presumably to collect the mail and the bills!
How much is all this coming and going from Madrid costing the public? Travelling from Gibraltar to Malaga airport, from Malaga airport to Madrid - and how many days - and where - do they stay while in Madrid? Is all this expense really necessary?
And is their absence from Gibraltar tolerable?
Why has it not been possible to recruit adequate staff to keep the office operational? Why do staff leave? What is wrong with the Madrid office? What is wrong with the tourism department as a whole?
When the Madrid office was opened it was going to be the panacea that would deliver a stream of longer-stay visitors from Spain to fill our hotels. It was seen as a vital lynch-pin in the tourism Strategy.
But it has become an empty office. What a scandal!
How the UN saw Gibraltar’s intervention
The UN’s press service issued the following about the address from Gibraltar.
CHIEF MINISTER
PETER CARUANA, Chief Minister of Gibraltar, said that every year the General Assembly adopted a resolution on Gibraltar, in which it called on the United Kingdom and Spain to continue their bilateral negotiations and urged them to reach a definitive solution to the dispute. Was the Assembly saying that the wishes of Gibraltar did not matter and the United Kingdom and Spain should resolve the issue bilaterally “over the heads” of the people of Gibraltar? Everyone agreed that Gibraltar should be decolonized. The question was how and by whom. In the process of decolonization, there was no alternative to self-determination.
By a process of “smoke and mirrors”, Spain was trying to merge two issues into one; decolonization on the one hand, and a territorial dispute on the other, he said. In doing so, it invoked the principle of territorial integrity, which was not applicable in the case of Gibraltar. Spain’s case did not bear scrutiny under the principles of modern international law. Spain and the United Kingdom both knew that, and that was why they both refused to refer the matter to the International Court of Justice. The essence of Spain’s case was that Gibraltar must be decolonized, not by self-determination, but by the so-called principle of territorial integrity.
There were three strands to Spain’s argument, he stated. First, Spain said that the people of Gibraltar were not an indigenous people and did not have a right to self-determination. Second, it referred to Gibraltar as an enclave, as if there were some special rules governing enclaves. Third, Spain claimed that a clause in the Treaty of Utrecht stated that Gibraltar could not be decolonized except by integration with Spain. Spain continued to use the annual Assembly resolution to deny the people of Gibraltar their right to self-determination. He urged that the case be given to the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion. He also requested the Assembly to include in the resolution the need to consult the wishes of the people of Gibraltar.
While he had been invited to participate in the talks between the United Kingdom and Spain, he had not because he had been denied an equal voice in the talks and denied assurances that agreements would not be struck over his head. On 18 March, the people of Gibraltar took part in a public demonstration to urge the United Kingdom not to make concessions to Spain. Over the past 12 months, he had appealed to the United Kingdom not to compromise. Despite that, on 12 July, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw made a formal statement that the United Kingdom and Spain were in broad agreement over issues concerning Gibraltar, including sharing sovereignty over Gibraltar. He condemned Mr. Straw’s statement. Joint sovereignty did not ensure the decolonization of Gibraltar, but enshrined it forever.
On 7 November, Gibraltar would convene a referendum inviting the people of the Territory to state whether they accepted or rejected the principle of shared sovereignty, he informed the Committee. He invited the United Nations to designate observers for that process. Both the United Kingdom and Spain had stated that they would not recognize the results of the referendum. He asked for fairness and balance in the United Nations attention in the Gibraltar issue, including respect for the wishes of the people of Gibraltar and the protection of their rights.
QUESTIONS
PATRICK ALBERT LEWIS (Antigua and Barbuda) asked what the Committee’s mandate was. It was clear that the fundamental issue was not one of decolonization, but of deciding sovereignty. He did not think that the Committee was mandated to discuss sovereignty.
EARL STEPHEN HUNTLEY (Saint Lucia) asked, did the Government of Gibraltar have to seek the approval of the British Government when it sought to hold general elections and did the British Government recognize the results of those elections.
Mr. CARUANA replied that the provisions for parliamentary elections were statutory and the United Kingdom had no role in the electoral process. Nor did the United Kingdom have any role in the holding of a referendum, which by the way was going to be observed by many representatives of the British Government.
JIMMY URE OVIA (Papua New Guinea) noted that Gibraltar was already self-governing and, therefore, perhaps it was time for Gibraltar to be taken off the list of Non-Self-Governing Territories.
Mr. CARUANA said that the Government of Gibraltar, on the executive and legislative side, did enjoy an enormous amount of self-government. But, the fact of the matter was that those powers were exercised within a colonial constitution. Of course, Gibraltar wished to be de-listed, but within the context of a genuine non-colonial status.
BERNARD TANOH-BOUTCHOUE (Côte d’Ivoire) said that those who put Gibraltar on the list of Non-Self-Governing Territories did so for a reason. The Committee had a mandate to follow the political development in the Territories. In that context, Gibraltar was at a stage of high development in the political realm compared to other Territories. Gibraltar did not represent the typical case for decolonization.
OPPOSITION LEADER
JOE BOSSANO, Leader of the Opposition in Gibraltar, said that on 7 November, the people of Gibraltar would be given an opportunity in a referendum to support or reject the framework outlined by Jack Straw. “We shall campaign for rejection,” he said. Mr. Straw had stated that he would ignore the referendum results. Immediately after the referendum, Mr. Bossano expected to achieve a consensus with the territorial Government, so that they could jointly pursue a new constitution with the British Government without Spain’s involvement.
He did not doubt that the Committee saw the Brussels negotiations as the way ahead, despite the fact that it knew that that was not what the people of Gibraltar wanted. He wanted the Spanish Government to know that there was every intention to interfere in and derail those negotiations. He condemned any attempt to interfere with the recognition and exercise of the right to self-determination of the people of Gibraltar. The people of Gibraltar would never compromise or give up their right to self-determination. They would never allow their country to come under Spanish rule.
The dispute over the question of Gibraltar, he said, was not a dispute between the United Kingdom and Spain. It was a dispute between Gibraltar and the United Kingdom. The dispute existed because the United Kingdom was failing to meet its obligations under the Charter to proceed with the decolonization of the Territory. The Committee itself was acting as an obstacle to Gibraltar’s decolonization by permitting the interests of the United Kingdom and Spain to be put above the wishes of the people of the Territory.
It has taken them 7 years!
Commenting on Mr Netto’s party political broadcast the Labour Party spokesman Bill Pisani expressed “great reservations” over the way in which Government is handling the housing issue.
“On the one hand, we have waited for nearly 7 years for the GSD to remember that the vast majority of Gibraltarians are ordinary working people of moderate means. We have all had to tolerate a policy of expensive housing for the rich while ordinary Gibraltarians have seen prices spiralling out of control and beyond their reach.
“Whilst we welcome the fact that Government has, at long last, decided to build housing at a price which ordinary people can afford, we deeply regret the fact that it has taken 7 years since the Government got elected in power to do so and that it will take the Government a few more years yet to make that housing available to people.
“If the Government had shown as much urgency now as it did when it got elected into power nearly 7 years ago then the problem would have been dealt with by now. As with many issues affecting Gibraltar not only is this is clear sign that to the Government ordinary Gibraltarians are down at the bottom of their list of priorities but it is a sign of fundamental mismanagement and lack of foresight.”
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