  |
Caruana clashes with Spanish reporter over New Flame
|
The chief minister Peter Caruana said yesterday that the Government would not commit itself to complete the work on the New Flame within 3 months.
He also told off a Spanish reporter for suggesting that the New Flame issue was the competence of the UK.
This happened at a joint press conference with visiting Europe minister Jim Murphy.
Earlier Mr Caruana had reiterated that the Government was more than safisfied with the handling of the new Flame and rejected Spanish (not the Spanish government) suggestions that Gibraltar had failed to live up to the standards required on this issue.
We continue to liaise closely with the Spanish Government and authorities, he added, to put their minds at ease on what could be an environmental threat to their own waters and their own coastlines.
He had received considerate treatment from the Gibraltar Government on the handling of the matter.
Mr Murphy, who was asked about it, said that the UK supports the work being undertaken by the Gibraltar Government and that the Spanish Government had been so informed.
It was then that a Spanish reporter, who was at the press conference held in the City Hall, asked Mr Caruana if he would translate a question for the visiting Minister about the New Flame.
Mr Caruana said he was not going to translate the question because the New Flame was not the competence of the UK but that of the Gibraltar Government.
He added: However, if you want to ask me if the Gibraltar Govermment commits itself to undertake the operation in 3 months, the reply is No.
He said he would commit himself to completing the operation in the necessary timescale.
|
|
|
|
