MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Gibraltar rallies British public support
As talks between the British and Spanish Governments over Gibraltar's future have stalled, Gibraltar has launched a vigorous appeal in Britain to rally public support against any surrender of sovereignty to Spain.
It is reminiscent of past campaigns by Falkland Islands supporters in the United Kingdom when Falklands' sovereignty came under threat from the lease-back proposals before the 1982 war. The Falklands lobby remains strong and steadfast in the United Kingdom, watching the Gibraltar dispute for any lessons to be learned.
The Gibraltar Government has spent thousands of pounds on big full-page colour advertisements in the main national newspapers, headlined: "Gibraltar seeks your support ? No deals with Spain against the wishes of the people of Gibraltar". Gibraltar is described as "a Rock solid British success story in the Mediterranean". The advertisements show a half-page picture of the population of Gibraltar demonstrating, waving British and Gibraltar flags, with the Rock of Gibraltar in the background.
The advertisements says: "The British Government proposes to strike a deal with Spain affecting Gibraltar's sovereignty and political rights against the wishes of the Government and people of Gibraltar, which even if rejected by the people of Gibraltar in referendum will stay on the table, to the political prejudice of Gibraltar, as the agreed position between the UK and Spain".
Betraying right to self-determination The advertisements declare:" This would be a sell out. Only the people of Gibraltar have the right to decide their future. Any negotiations or agreements entered into by the British Government against the people's wishes, betrays that right to self-determination and therefore breaks international law and a 30-year-old constitutional commitment by the British Government.
"No proposals affecting Gibraltar or its sovereignty should stay on the table if they are rejected by the people of Gibraltar in referendum. "Gibraltar is not opposed to reasonable dialogue. But this must be open agenda (that is, not predetermined to result in Spanish sovereignty). Gibraltar must be allowed a full and equal participation in any talks; and nothing should revive rejection by the people in referendum".
The advertisements point out that Gibraltar has been British since 1704, is financially self-sufficient, costing the UK taxpayer nothing, and a strategic military base free of charge to the UK taxpayer. It is self-governing, secure, politically stable, economically prosperous and part of the European Union. It has a strategic commercial ship repair facility, the biggest ship bunkering port in the Mediterranean, and a successful international finance centre.
Loyal friend in peace and war Gibraltar has been "a loyal friend to Britain in good and bad times, in peace and war, for 300 years".
The advertisements asks the British public to express support by writing or e-mailing the Gibraltar Government Office, Arundel Great Court, 179 Strand, London WC2R 1EH.Email: info@gibraltar.gov.uk.
The Times newspaper, in an editorial, says: "Spain has made explicit what Gibraltarians say they have known all along: that any agreement would, in Madrid's eyes, be a stepping stone on the way to sole Spanish sovereignty?.Spain has thrown away the best opportunity it has had for years to change the status quo. No Labour Government can go back on its pledge now to be bound by the will of the Gibraltarians. But even agreement on a framework becomes more difficult if Spain threatens to return to its old policy of border harassment and pressure. It has learnt nothing from other countries claiming nearby territory.
"Both Argentina and China insist still on their sovereignty claims to the Falklands and Taiwan, but have understood that wooing the inhabitants is more effective than bullying them. Britain has no interest in pushing for a deal that looks like giving in to pressure; the best Spain can now expect is further low-level talks when tempers have cooled".
Harold Briley, London
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