MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Straw cautions over ever increasing OT autonomy

The United Kingdom cannot offer an ever-increasing degree of autonomy which would prevent it from meeting its obligations and from protecting its liabilities and responsibilities, was the clear message spelt out by Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, when he addressed Overseas Territories' leaders at the Overseas Territories Consultative Council, OTCC last week in London.

"Like every partnership, ours involves shared responsibilities and obligations. We all want a balanced relationship, with Britain guaranteeing security and defence to the territories on the one hand; and on the other the territories developing further as well-governed small island economies where the rule of law and internationally accepted standards are observed," Mr Straw told the OTCC.

The Foreign Secretary said that many think of the partnership as split into external affairs handled by the UK and internal affairs by the territories. But, he said "the world today is so interconnected that the boundary between internal and external issues is more and more difficult to draw."

"Delivering on our strong commitment to protecting and helping the territories is only possible if we get the balance right".

"Britain's commitment to the territories already goes far beyond external protection, for example in providing financial help for economic development and diversification to those who most need it. At the same time, sound financial management and agreed borrowing limits for the territories - which sound like internal issues - are in fact important to the UK as well, because the British Government has a potential contingent liability which we understandably need to protect. We also want to work in partnership with the territories to promote good governance, in the interests of the whole population: this too is part of the mutual obligations of our relationship."

Mr Straw said that the Constitutional Review process under the UK Government's White Paper will help ensure "that we get the right balance of rights and responsibilities between us."

"For as long as the territories want, the UK will maintain our firm commitment to our partnership and the obligations that go with it. But equally, we cannot offer an ever-increasing degree of autonomy which would prevent us from meeting those obligations and from protecting our liabilities and responsibilities. Delivering on our strong commitment to protecting and helping the territories is only possible if we get the balance right."

"The role of Governors is at the heart of this. They both protect the British government's obligations in the territories, and serve as their territory's advocate to London. I welcome the good relationships Governors have with you, and I'm delighted that they were able to take part in this week's meetings".

Mr. Straw said he is always struck by the long history Britain shares with your countries.

"In some cases, our formal relationship is over 300 years old, and less formal links go back further still.

But our relationship is about more than our shared history. In today's world, the global network Britain has through the territories is as valuable as ever. The challenge today, both for you and for us, is to build a modern and effective partnership on the foundation of our shared past. It is what the 1999 White Paper described as a ?Partnership for Progress and Prosperity'."

Mr Straw reiterate that Britain would continue to expect the Territories to observe high standards of probity, law and order and good government, and to observe international commitments to which they are bound by virtue of their relationship with the UK. "We have an ambitious agenda for taking our relationship forward. Delivering it will mean the Foreign Office working more closely across the whole of government. And it will mean continuing to work in partnership with all of you". (FOC/Gibraltar Chronicle)