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?Give and take? over possible airport deal
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The chief minister Peter Caruana says that "we shall know during the first quartter of this year, I think, the outcome of these Constitutional negotiations with the UK."
Sovereignty will remain British, and nor will there be any change to the fact that, for international legal and political purposes, we will remain a non-independent dependency of the UK. But he added that the relationship with the UK would not be colonial in nature. "This is what decolonisation would mean for us," he said in his New Year message last night.
Mr Caruana sees 2006 as a politically important and significant year for Gibraltar.
He spoke of a safe and dignified process of dialogue with Spain, adding that the Trilateral Forum "is not engaged in any discussion about sovereignty or related issues."
DIFFERENT POSITIONS ON SOVEREIGNTY
Spain, the UK and Gibraltar all maintain their different positions in relation to sovereignty, he said. Clearly, this means that the positions on sovereignty of the UK and Gibraltar remain distinct, although he did not explain if the UK position remained one of joint sovereignty despite the referendum.
But he did say that Gibraltar maintains its position in relation "to our right to self-determination, that is the right to freely decide our own future, which is inalienable and Gibraltar will never give up or compromise."
Agreements flowing from the trlateral forum "will emerge early this year" on a number of issues, namely on expanded use of 'our airport', on Spanish pensions, on telephones, and on cross border traffic flows.
He described such agreements as "good generally for Gibraltar, good generally for the people of the neighbouring Campo area of Spain and good for relations between Gibraltar and Spain, based on mutual respect."
Mr Caruana did not expand on any such issues, so it remains to be seen what exactly is the small print.
GIVE AND TAKE
But speaking about the airport, he did repeat that to reach any agreement there have to be concessions, or what he further described as 'give and take' by all sides.
He did stress that there can be no concessions on sovereignty, jurisdiction or control of the airport. Nor will there be Spanish officials present in Gibraltar.
If it emerges, he went on, what will emerge is a practical agreement that will make our airport more useful for the social and economic development of people on both sides of the frontier, while fully safeguarding the political interests of all sides.
On the economy he said that "despite the challenges we face" it is very well set for 2006, "and if others play their parts, this year should prove to be a politically significant year for Gibraltar."
He pleged continuing support to MOD workers and the unions to get a fair and reasonable deal from the MOD.
International investor confidence in Gibraltar remains "at an all time high", and one of the fruits of our "successful economy" continues to be our health service, he said.
And a bit of news that will make a big impact on many people is that the analysis of the applications for Waterport Terraces is now complete "and we will make an anouncement this month about the allocation process." ?THE MESSAGE IN FULL, NEXT 3 PAGES.
- JOE GARCIA
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