MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Gibraltar Breaking News.

Headlines:
UK-Spain committed to “constructive dialogue”; Tercentenary celebrations with Princess Anne; United front in C 24 session; Tories promise to rescind Westminster Declaration.

UK-Spain committed to "constructive dialogue"

Following a meeting in London dominated by talks on Iraq, British Primer Minister Tony Blair and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Rodriguez Zapatero told reporters that they had not had time to discuss Gibraltar in their brief encounter. However they said that they remained committed to constructive dialogue in the future. The meeting at No 10 Downing Street is part of a Europe wide tour by the recently elected Socialist Spanish prime minister.

Tercentenary celebrations with Princess Anne

Her Royal Highness Princess Anne will visit Gibraltar as part of the tercentenary celebrations at the end of this month. Buckingham Palace confirmed The Princess Royal would be on the Rock for three days from the 28 to the 30 of June. Although no further details will be issued until nearer the date it is understood a number of events are being planned for the visit.

United front in C 24 session

Gibraltar's Chief Minister Peter Caruana and Labor Party leader Daniel Feetham will present a ?united front' before the United Nations Committee of 24 for Decolonisation on Tuesday June 8 when Mr Caruana delivers his address. Mr Feetham will be travelling to New York with the Chief Minister and will appear before the Committee of 24 as part of the Government delegation, by way of support for Gibraltar's position as put on its behalf by the Chief Minister of the day. According to a joint statement Mr. Feetham approached the Chief Minister with a view to presenting a united front at the UN Committee of 24 next week. The Labor party leader had the opportunity to read the Chief Minister's intended speech, and was able to fully support it. "It is greatly in Gibraltar's interest to present a united front at the UN on a non-partisan basis," said the joint statement by the Government and the Labor Party. "This will add strength to Gibraltar's case and will emphasize unity on self-determination and related issues and arguments. We are delighted to be able to do this in the interests of Gibraltar." Meanwhile Opposition leader Joe Bossano will present his own address to the Committee of 24, in which he will raise the question of what approach the new Spanish Government will take in the Gibraltar issue. Mr. Bossano suggested there would be little interest among the committee members, with the possible exception of Russia, in the fact that Gibraltarians will be casting their votes in a European election for the first time. "We must understand the historical background behind this committee; it has its roots in an anti-NATO, anti EU and anti-US international body of people. This is how Spain managed to get the attention of the C24 in the first place." Mr. Bossano believes that the UK should carry more blame than Spain in the current state of affairs for failing to defend Gibraltar's interests properly before the C24. "The people who should be protecting us are not doing it. It is not the role of Syria or China to protect Gibraltar; it is the role of the British". Nevertheless, said Mr. Bossano, the C24 should also have a role in protecting Gibraltar because its charter is to protect a colonized people.

Tories promise to rescind Westminster Declaration

Labor Party leader Daniel Feetham issued a statement highlighting the importance of Conservative shadow minister Michael Ancram's assurance that a Conservative Government would not discuss the sovereignty of Gibraltar with Spain, and that any discussions with Spain on any fundamental issue regarding Gibraltar would not take place without the consent of its Government. Mr Feetham who had a working breakfast with Mr Ancram last week to discuss future Conservative policy on various issues including Constitutional Reform, said: "It is important that people realize the magnitude and importance of the commitment made by both Michael Howard and Michael Ancram in their separate visits to Gibraltar. They both said that not only would a future Conservative Government rescind Jack Straw's Westminster Declaration but also, that they would not discuss the sovereignty of Gibraltar with Spain and any talks with Spain on any fundamental issue relating to Gibraltar would not take place without the specific consent of the Gibraltar Government". "At the time that Michael Howard made these commitments particularly the commitment that no talks would take place without the consent of the Government of Gibraltar, there were some, who in an attempt to sow doubt, argued that his words could be interpreted in different ways." "Today and yesterday Michael Ancram repeated these commitments in no uncertain terms and clearly beyond doubt that they mean that a future Government of Gibraltar would have a right of veto over any talks with Spain on any fundamental issue relating to Gibraltar including sovereignty. These are commitments which are unmatched not only at this European elections but by any major UK party ever. For those, like us, who are opposed to the Brussels Process, these commitments mean that there would never be talks under the Brussels Process under a future Conservative Government unless the Government of Gibraltar agreed to such talks."