The proposal is contained in a 3-point plan handed over by Spanish foreign minister Abel Matutes to foreign secretary Robin Cook when they met in Luxembourg last week to try and iron out differences over Gibraltar to allow Spain's unimpeded entry in NATO's military structure.
The meeting, however, served to highlight the fundamental differences between the two sides. Spain argues that Britain is using Spain's NATO entry as a pressure-point to extract concessions over Gibraltar.
But Cook told Matutes that it is Spain which is using its Gibraltar claim in a NATO context, as the Spanish restrictions on military movements by air and by sea belong to the Franco era and should cease to exist between NATO partners.
While the isthmus on which the airfield was built was not ceded under the Treaty of Utrecht, successive British governments have held the view that British sovereignty extends all the way to the frontier and are confident that an international legal ruling would be in its favour. This is because Britain has administered and controlled the area long enough to acquire a prescriptive title to it.
Non-agreement over the airport is holding back the prospect of Spain acquiring next month a 3rd level command in the outskirts of Madrid as part of it joining NATO's military structure.
With time running out, the two ministers are meeting again during two EU foreign ministers' meetings being held today and on 8 December. Madrid is said to be angling to have the NATO impasse discussed, as a last-ditch attempt, in the Gibraltar talks due in London on 10 December as part of the Brussels negotiating process.
When Matutes proposed formally last week the joint control of the airport for military flights, it made no headway with Cook. Spain wants to have its own personnel in the control tower, as part of its campaign to gain sovereign rights in Gibraltar.
This idea was first put forward during the Anglo-Spanish negotiations in 1987 which gave rise to the airport agreement which has been rejected by all Gibraltar political parties and which is seen as infringing on British sovereign rights.
The Madrid view is that Britain should not attach so much importance to the wishes and concerns of the Gibraltarians.
The Gibraltar Head of Delegation is Liberal Leader Dr. Joseph Garcia, and it includes Party Chairman Jonathan Stagnetto, Secretary General Damon Bossino and Executive Members Lyana Armstrong-Emery and Vijay Daryanani. In addition the chairperson of the Gibraltar Liberal Youth (GLY) Rebecca Faller will also be attending representing the International Federation of Liberal and Radical Youth (IFLRY).
Liberal International is one of the major political organisations of its kind in the world, grouping together Liberal parties from well over 50 countries. It comprises parties in government in small countries like Andorra and Catalunya, as well as in larger nations like the Netherlands, Germany, Canada and the United States. The Congress will be the largest ever, with over 450 participants from over 65 countries.
It will be opened by the Lord Mayor of Oxford and the keynote speech will be delivered by the Leader of the British Liberal Democrats Paddy Ashdown. He will be followed by Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesman Menzies Campbell MP. In addition the President of Nicaragua and the Prime Ministers of Slovenia and Andorra will address the delegates as well as Ministers from Liberal parties from across the globe. Other senior participants include the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliament of Canada and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
The Gibraltar Liberals will host a special meeting on the subject of "Gibraltar: the last colony in Europe" in the Council Chamber of Oxford Town Hall. This will be one of the first meetings of the Congress. In it, Party Leader Dr. Joseph Garcia will advocate the right to self-determination of the people of Gibraltar before an international audience. Dr. Garcia will maintain that people come first and that the right of the people of Gibraltar to decide their own future must be the paramount consideration.
The Congress will also look at a revision of the Liberal International manifesto as well as a series of resolutions on different subjects. There will also be a debate on Free Trade and a discussion on the future of liberalism on the eve of the 3rd millennium.
The Leader of the Liberal Party said that it was always very useful to exchange views and ideas with politicians from all over the world. The fact that a meeting on Gibraltar was to take place was very welcome as it would allow the opportunity to explain the Gibraltar viewpoint to an international gathering. He said that this was part of the work which the party was doing for Gibraltar outside our frontiers.
The Royal Army Educational Corps were given the responsibility for organising the Festival, a task which they carried out with great aplomb and increasing success until 1985. The very first Festival was held from 11th to 15th December 1944 and played to full houses at the YMCA building (its site now taken over by the Queen's Hotel). Ten one-act plays were entered together with two scenes from longer plays, of which "St. Joan" by George Bernard Shaw, was one.
Since the early 1960s, the number of service groups taking part declined due to the gradual reduction of service units in the Garrison. However, there has also been a consequent increase in local groups and many others from Spain who have assiduously supported the Festival with great enthusiasm over the years. In 1986, the Ince's Hall Theatre was handed over to the Gibraltar Government as part of the continuing return of MOD land to the Civil Authorities. Together with the theatre, the responsibility for organising the Drama Festival was also handed over to the Department of Education.
This year a total of 10 plays, 2 of which are originals, is being presented at the Ince's Hall, commencing today Monday.
It adds: The SDGG will hold the Chief Minister responsible for any negative results if he attends talks since the Brussels Agreement denies us our right to self-determination and gives Gibraltar to Spain.
The leaflet recalls what the Chief Minister has been saying over recent years about the Brussels Agreement ("Two Flags Three Voices"/ "Dead and Buried"/ "Tripartite" etc.,) leading to the "Safe and Dignified" stand. Dignified? ask the SDGG, before pointing out to Matutes having described the Chief Minister as an "alcalde".
The Conservative peer, formerly Jonathan Guinness, says he has not stolen any money but thinks there is a possibility be could end in prison. He is returning to the UK to clear the situation, saying he should be able to trace most of the missing millions.
He claims that two businessmen have been using his title and name as a front for their operation. "I am selling my shares in Trustor... I will also resign as chairman," he told the Sunday Telegraph.
Reports about the case, have also appeared in other UK papers, with Gibraltar getting a mention.
Esto es una verdadera pelicula, my dear. Another "success", por si no te has enterao.
In the meantime el Pita One dando vueltas por Whitehall donde le quieren dar Brussel sprouts para comer.
He should give them some Calentita, in return, por eso it is Gibraltar's national dish.
Y todo el mundo, or at least medio mundo, se apunta al integration, except el UK, conque the least said the better.
Fueron treinta gatos al meeting the other day. Estaba lloviendo, although if we integrated, nos caeria un chaparron!
Mind you, si el Peliza llama el meeting hubieran salido integrationists de todo los rincones.
Que paliza! Cheerio until next week.
Adios Miss Calentita.