UK reaffirms sovereignty over Gibraltar and its territorial waters
The British Government responded to Spain’s intervention at the UN Fourth Decolonization Committee with a firm statement about its commitment to the people of Gibraltar and their British sovereignty.
Michael Tatham, Britain’s Ambassador and political coordinator at the UN, also reaffirmed in clear terms Britain’s sovereignty over the Rock and its territorial waters.
Reading from a prepared statement, he said Gibraltar’s constitutional relationship with the UK was modern, mature and not based on colonialism, and that the UN’s criteria for delisting were outdated.
Mr Tatham specifically rejected Spain’s assertion that the principle of territorial integrity applied to the decolonisation of Gibraltar. He also dismissed Spain’s suggestion that the people of Gibraltar did not have the right to self determination.
In a lengthy and robust response to the intervention earlier in the meeting by Spain’s permanent ambassador to the UN, Fernando Arias Gonzalez, Mr Tatham said the UK believed that the people of Gibraltar had exercised their right to self determination by accepting the new Constitution.
This in no way diminished British sovereignty over Gibraltar, he added, and the UN needed to assess how it might better take into account this relationship between the UK ad the Rock.
“The United Kingdom reaffirms the longstanding commitment to the people of Gibraltar that the UK will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another State against their wishes,” Mr Tatham said.
“The UK Government also confirms that it will not enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content.”
The British ambassador nevertheless told the Fourth Committee that the UK remained committed to constructive dialogue with Spain on Gibraltar and other matters.
He said that Britain and Gibraltar both believed that the trilateral forum was the most “credible, constructive and practical” means of strengthening UK-Spain-Gibraltar relations for the benefit of all parties.
The forum protected everyone’s respective positions on sovereignty but enabled improved relations and dialogue on practical matters to the benefit of communities on both sides of the frontier.
He said the UK, like Gibraltar, regretted Spain’s decision to abandon the forum. “However, the United Kingdom recognises that the forum cannot continue without the agreement of all parties,” Mr Tatham added.
“We would like to see cooperation continue in some form and to return to the Trilateral at the earliest opportunity.”
“The United Kingdom therefore stands ready to explore new ways of taking forward dialogue and co-operation on issues of mutual importance by any means that fully reflect the interests, rights and responsibilities of the people of Gibraltar.”
At the close of the meeting, the differences in position between the UK and Spain meant that the two countries had been unable to reach agreement on the wording of their annual consensus resolution to the Fourth Committee.
The Committee agreed to grant both countries an extension and intense discussions were still under way in London, Madrid and New York last night. Mr Tatham said the UK hoped to reach a consensus declaration with Spain, as had been the case for the past 37 years.
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Ok, so what about portugal? Does spanish territoral integrity apply to portugal too? Or to France or Andora? No it doesn't so spains talking crap!! Especially when Gibralter has benn British territory for longer than what it was ever Spanish territory!
In fact Morroco has a better claim to Gibralter than spain since it was moroccan territory (711AD - 1461 granted there were conflicts during that period over gibraltar, they were not conquered till 1461) longer than it was spanish territory (1501 - 1704). Its been british since 1704 - The Dates say alot about how stupid spains claim is!
CFK influence.
Totally false. It's amazing how they lie. The committee considers UN decolonization of Gibraltar as a colony. Of the 16 cases of colonialism in the world, 10 are for the UK they are: Anguilla, Bermuda, Gibraltar, the Malvinas Islands, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, Monserrat Island, Pitcairn Island and St. Helena Island.
Just look at any web page concerning the decolonization committee of United Nations refers to are a colony.
Besides the possibility of applying the principle of self-determination, as its exercise by the people of the Rock of Gibraltar, cause the “disruption of the national unity and territorial integrity” of Spain. In this regard it should be noted that Resolution 1514 (XV) “Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples” in the sixth paragraph states that ”Any attempt aimed at the partial or total disruption of the national unity and territorial integrity of a country is incompatible with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
The conflict of Gibraltar is a sovereignty issue. No self-determination. England does not comply with international law. UK as a colonial and imperialist power, apusta to violence. Spain bet the dialogue as established by the Decolonisation Committee of the United Nations.
It is to be hoped that the United Nations will bring the Decolonisation System to an end, just as the Trusteeship System has been terminated (see below), thereby recognising that (with the exception of Western Sahara) the remaining 'non self-governing territories' including the Falkland Islands each have exercised their right of self-determination by voluntarily associating themselves with a sovereign state (such voluntary association is known as 'free association' or 'devolved integration'). The Falkland Islands and their fellow Overseas Territories are self-governing in all their internal affairs, and have voluntarily surrendered responsibility for external affairs to their associated state. By exercising the right of self-determination and choosing their own constitutional position, the territories have fulfilled the expectations of Chapter XI of the United Nations Charter.
'Consensus on Gibraltar by the UN Committee of 24 in 1964
The Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Territories and Peoples, after considering the situation in the Non-Self-Governing Territory of Gibraltar and hearing statements by the representative of the administering Power and the representative of Spain and by petitioners from the Territory and from Spain, affirms that the provisions of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples are FULLY APPLICABLE to the Territory of Gibraltar.
In its consideration of these statements, the Special Committee noted that there was a disagreement, or even a dispute, between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Spain, regarding the status and situation of the Territory of Gibraltar. In the circumstances, the Special Committee invites the United Kingdom and Spain to begin talks without delay, in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter, in order to reach a negotiated solution in conformity with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), giving due account to the opinions expressed by the members of the Committee and bearing in mind the interests of the people of the Territory.
Under its terms of reference laid down in General Assembly resolution 1654 (XVI), the Special Committee requests the United Kingdom and Spain to inform the Special Committee and the General Assembly of the outcome of their negotiations.'
en.wikisource.org/wiki/Consensus_on_Gibraltar_by_the_UN_Committee_of_24_in_1964
To sum up Gibraltar could become an independent nation any time they wish. Self-determination is officially more important that territorial integrity (I've lost the UN link). But like other posters have pointed out, if Gibraltar is damaging Spain territorial integrity then so are Andorra and Portugal.
Perhaps the UN can stop this colonial trend.
Poor babies, can't make it in the real world.
15# I think you need to think about what you posted.
2, envious
3, jealousy.
Simple as 123.
.
Simple as 123 is far too hard for 'YULENONOESNOTHING'. LOLs
They have nothing,
They will get nothing,
talk talk talk.
They lost to us,
They lost to the UN
They lost to the free world,
They are about to lose to Ghana.
But hey, they will get into the guineas book of records, for talking.
Talk talk talk, threats threat threats, it all adds up to
Jealousness and envy.
Argentina, CFK Anti brit bloggers,
All the same,
Bla blab la , brag brag brag .ectectect
But Briton, you did not include the other Guiness Book of Records entry:
FOR LOSING!
LOL
very true.chris
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