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Gibraltar could be Spanish in four years, “but Gibraltarians must be seduced”

Friday, April 28th 2017 - 10:21 UTC
Full article 5 comments
García-Margallo insisted that Brexit was the best opportunity Spain has had since the 18th century to further its aspirations over Gibraltar. García-Margallo insisted that Brexit was the best opportunity Spain has had since the 18th century to further its aspirations over Gibraltar.

Gibraltar could be Spanish “within four years”, Spain’s former foreign minister, José Manuel García-Margallo, said on Wednesday insisting that “the Hong Kongisation” of the Rock was possible in that timescale.

 Addressing a forum in Zaragoza, García-Margallo insisted, as he had done repeatedly while in office, that Brexit was the best opportunity Spain has had since the 18th century to further its aspirations over Gibraltar.

But he said the UK must first be “persuaded to help us to seduce the Gibraltarian population”, adding that Spain must also “seduce” the Gibraltarians into believing that “being in Spain and the EU is good business, being outside is bad business”.

The British Government has repeatedly made clear to Spain that there will be no change to Gibraltar’s sovereignty – or even a discussion on sovereignty – against the wishes of the Gibraltarians.

The Gibraltar Government, highlighting past referendum results, has repeatedly made clear that there is no prospect of joint sovereignty over Gibraltar, and that Gibraltarians want to remain British.

Categories: Politics, International.

Top Comments

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  • R. Ben Madison

    Spain signed a treaty ceding Gibraltar in perpetuity to Britain. There is absolutely no legal Spanish claim to Gibraltar. Similarly, Argentina in 1850 signed the Convention of Settlement dropping Argentina's claim to the Falkland Islands. One almost gets the impression that Latin countries' words are not to be trusted?

    Apr 29th, 2017 - 03:12 pm +2
  • gordo1

    Never! ¡NUNCA!

    Apr 28th, 2017 - 05:28 pm +1
  • Markič

    Mars could be argentine within 4 years, but the martians must be seduced.

    Apr 28th, 2017 - 06:59 pm +1
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