  |
Margallo wants dialogue- on his terms
|
by PANORAMA reporter
Over the weekend there has been no let up by the Spanish Government and media regarding the fishing dispute. Spanish Foreign Minister, Jose Margallo said on Saturday that "the best solution for the present conflict in the bay is by finding a compromise through a process of negotiations, but a process that guarantees the right for Spanish fishermen to fish where they have been fishing all their lives."
When asked about his forthcoming meeting with his UK counterpart William Hague tomorrow, Mr. Margallo appeared quite sure of himself when he said that he thought the outcome of the meeting with the UK foreign secretary would result in both him and Mr Hague "urging the parties involved in the dispute (Gibraltar Government and Fishermen) to renew the 1999 fishing agreement."
Margallo also stressed "any solution reached is one between the Gibraltar Government and the Spanish fishermen, it is not an issue that corresponds to the two Governments (Britain and Spain).
Although Margallo's statement appears more toned down than previous days, probably not wanting to be seen arriving in London 'rattling too many Spanish sabres' he thinks that Mr Hague will agree with his point of view in allowing the Spanish fishermen to continue fishing where they reckon they have always fished and using their fishing methods.
Mr Margallo appears to have conveniently forgotten that Mr. Hague will want to give him a real piece of his mind (to put it midly) regarding the 'illegal, dangerous and provocative manner Spanish law enforcement agencies have been instructed by the Spanish government to enter British/Gibraltar territorial waters and completely ignore internationally recognised warnings from Her Majesty's Navy to leave British Waters.
Mr Margallo also forgets that the Gibraltar Government is actively attempting to negotiate an agreement (if that is possible) based on a memorandum of understanding, which has the support of the La Linea fishing majority, while the Algeciras minority have been rejecting it as 'madness' - while they are being encouraged to break Gibraltar laws by Mr Margallo's government!
At the weekend it was being reported in the Campo that the Algeciras fishermen might end up joining the fishermen group that is to try and reach agreement with Gibraltar, having seen that the Gibraltar law enforcement agencies have been firm in resisting that the fishermen do what they like in British/Gibraltar waters.
However, it remains to be seen if they keep on demanding that they can carry on fishing with their nets etc, as if the waters of Gibraltar were Spanish, which is what the Spanish government has told them. Some of the fishermen think that the licence to fish issued by the Spanish authorities is valid in Gibraltar waters, which is what they were saying when the Gibraltar government offered to supply them with Gibraltar fishing licences, which they rejected!
NO ARMADA
*Meanwhile, a request by the Guardia Civil union that the Spanish government send units of its navy to Gibraltar waters, has been rejected by the HQ Guardia Civil, saying that the larger navy units are not suitable for the tasks at hand.
28-05-12
|
|
|
|
