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Conditions under which the Opposition would recommend a NO vote in referendum
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The conditions under which the GSLP/Liberal Alliance would recommend a NO vote in a referendum have been spelt out by Dr Joseph Garcia, Leader of the Liberal Party and Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
In today's PANORAMA INTERVIEW, Dr Garcia also says that greater use of the airport is one thing, but giving Spain a 'say' in the use of the airport would be another - and the Opposition would not agree with it.
Our interviewer Brian McCann asked Dr Garcia if the Opposition was still happy that it would be right to vote 'yes' in the referendum on the constitution.
As part of policy decisions taken by the Opposition, the UK was asked to confirm that the referendum would be an act of self-determination in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. The Charter makes clear it is an act of decolonisation.
"As long as the UK agrees with Gibraltar that this is what is taking place, we will support a vote in favour of the constitution," he said.
"However," he added, "if there is any question that this is not the UK position, and that the position of London is the same as the position of Madrid, then we would recommend a No vote."
The Opposition line is that what they have said so far, about supporting the constitution in the referendum, is based on the parliamentary answer given by Minister of State Geoff Hoon earlier this month. However, Dr Garcia says that, following an interview of Mr Hoon with the Spanish daily El Mundo (as published in PANORAMA), "THERE WAS SOME DOUBT THROWN ON IT."
AIRPORT
About the airport, Dr Garcia said: "Our position on the airport is that we have always been against JOINT USE of the airport and in favour of GREATER USE of the airport. Mr Caruana has used both these terms as if they were interchangeable."
He adds: "For us, the difference is very clear. GREATER USE means that we welcome flights from Spain in the same way as we welcome flights from anywhere else. JOINT USE means giving Spain a say in the use that is made of the airport."
Dr Garcia said: We will not be bound by anything that may be agreed which we do not think is good for Gibraltar. This will not be binding on us."
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