MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Caruana criticises FCO over Spanish cruise restrictions

Gibraltar Chief Minister Peter Caruana accused the British Foreign Office of failing to defend Gibraltar's interests adequately in the on-going cruise liner dispute with Spain

Mr Caruana's remarks came during the official opening last week of the refurbished Montagu Pavilion from where the audit and accounting firm BDO Fidecs operates which is the second largest professional employer in Gibraltar.

Unveiling a commemorative plaque Chief Minister Peter Caruana noted the significant contribution the company has made to the local community and vowed that Government would fight ?tooth and nail' to protect the Finance Centre from external pressures.

Mr Caruana was also critical of the Spanish Foreign Office's recent restrictions on Gibraltar's cruise liner industry, and lamented that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office had failed to defend Gibraltar's interests adequately.

However "Galaxy", a cruise ship from Celebrity Cruises this week chose to make her inaugural call to Gibraltar ? despite the Spanish Government ban. At a plaque exchange ceremony on board the ship, Gibraltar Tourism Minister Joe Holliday, gave her captain a special warm welcome after the vessel had decided to cancel its call at Malaga and continue with its call to Gibraltar.

Mr Holliday said he was hopeful that the current problems experienced by some cruise ships calling at Gibraltar, and subsequently at Spanish ports, would be resolved shortly. He emphasised that the Spanish Government's position was unacceptable, indefensible and unjustifiable as the EU Regulation 4055/86 referred to by the Spanish Authority is irrelevant to cruise ships.

The Minister stressed the need for the Foreign Office to take a stronger stand on the issue and defend Gibraltar's interests more energetically.

Another cruise liner "Prinsendam" from the Holland America Line also secured this week its lines in the Rock's port rejecting a call from Tarragona which warned it would not be accepted there if it stopped at Gibraltar first.

Meanwhile in Parliament Dr Denis MacShane British Minister for Europe, said that Britain's complaints are being followed up by talks with Spanish authorities.

Lindsay Hoyle asked what representations the Foreign Secretary has made to the Spanish Government concerning cruise liners which have previously docked at Gibraltar being prevented from entering Spanish ports and if he would make a statement on the decision by the Spanish Government to refuse entry to the cruise liner "Norwegian Dream" to the port of Barcelona.

Dr MacShane said that on the instructions of Jack Straw, Foreign Secretary, the British Ambassador in Madrid delivered a message to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday 29 April and complained again over the weekend of May 1 and 2.

"He complained once more, to the Spanish State Secretary for Europe and the Americas, on May 12, and to a senior Spanish official on May 13. He expressed HMG's disappointment and surprise at the Spanish action and stressed how seriously HMG views such hindrance to legitimate business by cruise liners. HMG is in close touch with the Spanish Authorities with a view to achieving an early solution to this problem. I will also raise the issue in meetings with Spanish officials this week", concluded Dr. MacShane who this Friday will be meeting Spanish counterparts.

Gibraltar not present in pre-C24 meeting

The Gibraltar government confirmed it is not attending the United Nations C24 Decolonisation Committee's Pacific regions conference being held in Papua New Guinea.

A government spokesman said that "we feel that the two annual appearances by the Chief Minister before both the C24 and the Fourth Committee are sufficient". He also pointed out that Gibraltar had not been able to change motions at these seminars.

The seminar is conducted within the framework of the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism (2001-2010) and focuses on practical steps to advance the decolonization process in the Non-Self-Governing Territories of the Pacific region.

Among the issues discussed during the seminar are the role of the Special Committee in facilitating decolonisation of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and the views of the representatives of Non-Self-Governing Territories, both in the Pacific region and the Caribbean, on their present status and prospects for decolonisation.

The participants will include the delegation of the Special Committee and other United Nations Member States, representatives of the administering Powers, elected representatives of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, a number of experts in decolonisation in the Pacific region and some non-governmental organisations based in the Non-Self Governing Territories