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UK thinks Gibraltar should not be on the UN list of colonies
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A statement from the chief minister's office last night said the following:
The Gibraltar Delegation has to-day met to discuss the UK's proposed Despatch ("covering letter") to the Constitution and the UK's response to Gibraltar's proposal for possible additional preambles in the Constitution Order.
In respect of the Despatch, it will be recalled that, being a unilateral UK document it was not submitted to the Gibraltar Delegation in London for negotiation. The delegation was. nevertheless asked for its views and, at the London round, suggested four or five modifications. The UK has
accepted and incorporated several of them. However, since this is a UK unilateral letter to the Governor, which simply expresses the UK's view and does not require Gibraltar's agreement the Delegation is content. The Despatch contains nothing which is incorrect or unfavourable to Gibraltar and does have several things that are favourable.
In respect to the request for an additional preamble relating to self determination (over and above the clear statements recognising our right to self determination that will be contained in the Despatch and in the Constitution itself) the UK's view is that it is too soon to settle the text of any further preambular paragraphs. However, the UK has confirmed that the 1969 Sovereignty Preamble will obviously remain.
In relation to de-listing the Delegation considered the UK's position which was set out in a letter to the Chief Minister. In that letter the UK say that its position on delisting (at the UN) is longstanding and remains unchanged and is as follows: The UK does not believe that Gibraltar or any other British Overseas Territory should remain on the UN list of non self governing territories. The UK believes that the UN criteria for delisting are outdated and fail to take account of the way that relationships between the UK and its Overseas Territories have been modernised in a way that is acceptable to both parties. Consequently, it is not UK policy to engage more closely with the UN in seeking the delisting of any of the British Territories.
The delegation welcomes the fact that the UK believes that Gibraltar should not remain on the UN list.
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