MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Devolved integration” controversy.

Gibraltar's Integration with Britain Movement (IWBM) Chairman Joe Caruana has appealed to Chief Minister Peter Caruana to present the option of integration to the British Government at the forthcoming Conference of Overseas Territories in London, stressing that “good UN options are worth fighting for”.

According to the "Gibraltar Chronicle" in the recent election campaign Mr Caruana made clear on several occasions that integration (with Britain) was not a policy that his Government would pursue at this stage. And he stated in the GSD manifesto that he considered it a risk to do so since it would not be available in a way that is safe to Gibraltar. However the IWBM leader however has rejected that view.

"Whilst it is possible that the Chief Minister of Gibraltar may use this occasion to present the Select Committee's Constitutional Proposals, he would do well if he reiterated to the Conference and the British Government the undemocratic denial by HMG of the Option of Integration for Gibraltar," said Mr Caruana (IWBM), recalling the Chief Minister had told the Foreign Affairs Commission in 1999 that ?Gibraltars' majority view and first preference for constitutional change and decolonisation is integration with the UK'

"The 1999 OT White Paper's policy makes a mockery of the UN options 1514 & 1541. It is also contradictory to its own aspiration for 'self determination and decolonisation' for the Overseas Territories", writes The Chronicle quoting Mr. Joe Caruana.

"Therefore knowing that Devolved Integration carries strong feelings and support in Gibraltar and that it is the only policy, which would close the door on the Spanish illegal claim, we urge the CM not to lose this opportunity to, at least press for this UN option, which is ours by right to have."

"At a future date we encourage Government and Opposition to attempt to reconcile and make compatible the outcome of their proposals with the positive facets which Devolved Integration offers and which has not yet been fully debated locally."

Peter Caruana, Gibraltar's Chief Minister was listed as the ?Person of the week' by the London daily "The Independent". This came in the wake of his election victory on November 27.