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The time is not ripe for sovereignty solution -says Caruana's heir apparent
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First, need to make advances in Trilateral Process to arrive at adequate conditions
by our Political correspondent
Former GSD minister Peter Montegriffo says that the time is not ripe for a sovereignty solution, and that he backs the Tripartite Forum making greater headway to remove the distrust that still exists between those on either side of the frontier. The adequate conditions must first be created before embarking on sovereignty talks.
Asked if there is a solution to the sovereignty issue, he replied: Of course there is. I have always thought it is possible to find a solution in the context of the European union, applying the democratic principles and of mutual respect that unite us.
However, he added, I think that at present the conditions are not there in Madrid or in Gibraltar to tackle an agreement on this topic, as there is still too much distrust as neighbours.
He told the Campo paper Europa Sur: It will be premature at present to seek a solution, which is not urgent anyway.
Further, Madrid knows it is not possible for there to be changes in the status of Gibraltar without the consent of the Gibraltarians.
The priority at present must be the social and economic well-being of the peoples.
He was asked about a bilateral solution to sovereignty. That is impossible, he replied. It would be inconceivable for any Gibraltarian that Madrid and London should arrive at an agreement bilaterally.
He recalls the 'sad episode' of joint sovereignty between Spain and the UK.
A consensus is a basic requirement, the most important factor.
In the meantime, what is. positive, is that it is possible to advance in many other topics.
It is not worthwhile to centre on a debate that at present does not have a solution.
Mr Montegriffo takes the view that, as shown over Princess Anne's visit, the position of Spain's institutions differs from that of the Spanish people, who did not see the visit to be that offensive.
The paper's headline interprets what Mr Montegriffo said as there being too much distrust as neighbours to consider the sovereignty question.
What is progress is the Tripartite Forum, and to put sovereignty to one side as the adequate conditions are still not there.
The Forum was moving too slowly at present to reach agreements, he was told. He replied: It is better to advance slowly than hastily to reach agreements that might be difficult to implement. What has been done up to now is 'very important' - and he hopes there will be continuity.
Mr Montegriffo has long been the secretary of 'Mar del Sur', a Spanish socio-cultural association which seeks the collaboration between the two sides of the frontier. It is thought to have links with the PSOE party in Spain.
Mr Montegriffo has long been regarded as marking time to wait for the departure from politics of Peter Caruana when he would consider making a move to take over the GSD as leader and re-enter politics.
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