MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

UK-Gibraltar sovereignty row.

A bitter dispute has broken out over the future of Gibraltar whose people have voiced fears that the United Kingdom is contemplating surrendering sovereignty over the colony to Spain.

Gibraltar's Chief Minister, Peter Caruana, has attacked the British Government saying he suspects that the real intention of talks between the British and Foreign Ministers in Barcelona (on November 20th) is "to negotiate away our British sovereignty". Gibraltar has been invited but is threatening to boycott the meeting between the British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, and his Spanish counterpart, Josep Pique, for fears of a sell out over sovereignty.

Mr Caruana declared: "The people of Gibraltar have been British for 300 years. We are a colonial people with the right to decide our own future. The idea that the sovereignty of Gibraltar can be handed around between the UK and Spain either on a partial or shared basis, regardless of the wishes of the people of Gibraltar, is a democratically obscene position. "It would constitute a flagrant breach of the solemn assurances given by every British Government since 1969. "We frankly do not see why we should be expected to give up our British sovereignty to buy off the Spanish blackmails and the Spanish vetoes of European business , which is really behind all this".

Gibraltar's concerns were aroused after a meeting (on November 9th) between Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Maria Aznar, who hinted that sovereignty is one of the issues under discussion.

The Gibraltarians are furious with the British Europe Minister, Peter Hain, who hinted that he wants to see the Rock of Gibraltar return to Spanish rule. He appeared to criticise the 30,000 Gibraltarians for being "stuck in the past" and scorned their reluctance to take part in negotiations. He said they would have everything to gain by joining the talks over the future of the territory. Mr Hain insisted in a BBC radio interview that times have changed since the days of Empire. He said a deal is needed to end disruption caused by diplomatic wrangling over the Rock. He talked of a new relationship which could be of "great advantage" to the people of Gibraltar . He said they have "suffered a serious of inconveniences, including border delays, telecommunications denial, and airport restrictions. I am confident we through talking to Spain can solve these problems".

The Minist