MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mind your own business, Bossano tells Spain.

Leader of the Opposition Joe Bossano has noted that at the time of the Anglo-Spanish negotiations over Gibraltar, Madrid did not raise the question of visits by nuclear submarines other than suggesting their acquiescence “should have sovereignty concessions as a quid pro quo.”

Accusing Spanish politicians of hypocrisy on this issue, Mr Bossano further asked whether this means that "any nuclear risk disappears if we share sovereignty with them?"

Mr Bossano said: "The Mayor of La Linea and other Spanish politicians should mind their own business and accept it is entirely a matter for Gibraltarians to decide whether we welcome or oppose visits by nuclear submarines to Gibraltar. Following the arrival of HMS Turbulent on what has been described as a routine visit, there have been outbursts in Spain by the PP, PSOE and IU."

"It is obvious that local politicians in the area see this issue as a stick with which to hit Gibraltar ever since the repairs to HMS Tireless were carried out here two years ago.

People like the Mayor of La Linea do not understand that there is a profound difference between one situation and the other. The problem for many people with HMS Tireless was that it was sent for repair to Gibraltar even though the nuclear berth here was designated as a "Z" berth where such submarines dock for routine recreational and operational purposes only. This was as opposed to an "X" berth which is a facility properly equipped to handle such repairs. HMS Turbulent is in Gibraltar for recreational purposes. Routine visits of this kind have been going on for years in Gibraltar without causing alarm among the population either here or on the other side."

"Spanish politicians are now ignoring this difference and taking the opportunity to knock Gibraltar every time a nuclear powered warship or submarine comes into port. The Opposition considers that they should look at their own back yard, and if they find such visits so objectionable they should take it up with their own Government in Madrid and tell the Americans that they are not welcome in Spain. The passage of nuclear powered vessels through the Straits of Gibraltar both on the surface and under the sea is not a secret. Nuclear submarines have been calling at Gibraltar since time immemorial. It is part of our contribution to the Western defence structure, which includes the defence of Spain."

"The Opposition consider that in a democratic society persons and organisations must be perfectly free to have their own views on controversial issues and the question of a nuclear free policy is one of them. However, when they were negotiating sharing the sovereignty of Gibraltar with Jack Straw, Madrid did not raise the question of visits by nuclear submarines except in the context of suggesting that Spain's acquiescence should have sovereignty concessions as a quid pro quo. Does this mean that any nuclear risk disappears if we share sovereignty with them? It is a gross political hypocrisy for Spanish politicians to find environmental objections to nuclear submarines if we say no to shared sovereignty, but not to find them objectionable if we are prepared to share sovereignty with them."

Source Gilbratar Chronicle