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Deal fever grips media after Spanish Foreign Ministry leaks
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Deal fever has gripped the media after leaks made by the Spanish Foreign Ministry about the state of the talks and some of its contents, as PANORAMA was first to report yesterday.
Such is the fever that the Gibraltar Government yesterday felt it necessary to issue two Press statements to clarify positions as they see them.
"The Government of Gibraltar notes the speculative fever that appears to have gripped certain sectors of the Spanish media in relation to the contents of the trilateral agreements, none of which have yet been concluded."
The Government steers clear from mentioning the Spanish diplomatic leaks as reported by the Spanish media.
Spanish official sources have been quoted by the media as saying that the UK concluded the pensions deal on Friday, which was later than expected, and this did not allow for the ministerial meeting to take place today and yesterday in Cordoba as had been planned.
This has been reiterated by the agency Europa Press when publishing the comments made by the Gibraltar government.
SPANISH PRESENCE
It is also re-stated that there will be a Spanish police presence in the airport. The airport deal was concluded during a working lunch last week between the Spanish secretary of state Benardino Leon and Peter Caruana, it was reported.
The Gibraltar government however came out saying that it "notes particularly the speculation in Europa Press to the effect that Spanish officials may be present on the Gibraltar side. The Gibraltar government would refer to its previous categorical statements to the contrary and this remains unchanged."
The Government also reacted to a report in the Spanish daily El Pais.
The Government said: "In order to avoid misunderstandings based on speculative newspaper reports, the Gibraltar Government wishes to clarify the following:
1. A ministerial meeting in late August or early September has not been agreed, and this is unrealistic given the intervening holiday period and National Week in early September.
2. None of the Agreements, including the airport agreement, will include formulas which are capable of more than one meaning on any issue, including who controls passengers and where at the airport.
The Gibraltar Government looks forward to the conclusion of agreements when all parties are ready to do so. These agreements would be announced at a Ministerial Round for which no date has yet been fixed. Possible dates are presently under consideration and discussion by the three participants."
* The Spanish had been suggesting that the ministerial talks, delayed by the UK's pensions deal decision, could take place in late August or early September, but this is being ruled out by the Chief Minister's office, which however says that "possible dates are presently under consideration and discussion by the three participants."
If such is the case it must be because the ministerial meeting is under consideration, with dates being looked at.
A report in El Pais has stated that the Spanish government had wanted to conclude matters this week and the Gibraltarian side was in agreement.
It added that the question of a Spanish presence in the airport has been resolved.
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