MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Tercentenary Message: A Proud Past and Confidence for the Future.

From the Chief Minister Peter Caruana.

Tomorrow is the focal point of the year long celebration of the Tercentenary of British Sovereignty of Gibraltar. It is thus an important day in our collective journey as a people, not just because we celebrate our history, but because we look forward to a future of respect for our collective rights and aspirations as a people.

Our 300 year history has an important military element, not just because of the part that successive generations of the British military has played in the defence of Gibraltar, but also because of the very close ties that have existed (and continue to exist) between Gibraltar and almost every branch of the British Armed Forces. Indeed, in defence activities lay the foundations upon which we have been able to build our civilian community and economy.

The relationship between Britain and Gibraltar has thus been beneficial to both in manner that we form an important part of each other's heritage. It is no coincidence that, to this day, the Royal Marines cite just one battle honour on their colours, the single word "Gibraltar". Nor is it a coincidence that the Royal Engineers were born in Gibraltar. For the Royal Navy, for the army and (more recently) for the Royal Airforce, Gibraltar has been a "home from home" base for centuries, resulting in the building of the famous dockyards and airfield, and miles upon miles of ramparts, bastions and tunnels, all of which now form such an important part of our heritage.

Indeed, throughout history, Gibraltar has played an important part in almost all British military endeavours in the Western hemisphere. For example, it was the only territory in continental Europe that remained in Allied hands throughout World War 2, making possible the relief of Malta, the allied landings in North Africa and many other vital operations. It remains to this day an important, strategic military asset for British defence and other interests.

For our part the relationship with Britain has given us everything that we value ? the opportunity to establish a prosperous economy and thus a successful and viable society; our democratic values and freedoms; our system of politics and government; our educational and judicial systems; our legal system and so on. These are the fruits of our relationship with Britain and they are well worth commemorating and celebrating. They form the building blocks of who we are as a people, collectively and individually, and they have shaped our aspirations and determination as a people. Our aspirations and determination as a people have also been forged by the suffering, sacrifices, courage and determination of our previous generations of Gibraltarians who have established Gibraltar as our homeland, and without whose steadfast commitment and resolve we would not have what we enjoy today, nor be what we are today.

And so, during this our Tercentenary, we remember with gratitude our forefathers, not least the war time generation ? the evacuees without whose love for Gibraltar and determination to return to their homeland none of what followed would have happened ? and the resolute determination of the "closed frontier" generation. Both of these events and experiences were instrumental in reinforcing the sense of identity and unity today of the Gibraltarian people and our resoluteness in the face of adversity.

We have much to celebrate as a people. We are a resilient, close-knit, family orientated, tolerant community. The diversity of our origins over the centuries has made Gibraltar a hugely warm, welcoming and hospitable community, where people of different ethnic origins and religions live side by side in genuine peace and harmony ? something which larger countries could learn from us, to their advantage.

It is deeply regrettable that some of our neighbours (but by no means all) appear to resent our celebration of our history. We must not allow ourselves to be thereby distracted from the enjoyment of our celebration of this momentous anniversary for our community and our homeland. No-one can be denied their history nor its implications for their future.

And so, during this our Tercentenary year, we look forward as well into the future. As we celebrate our 300th birthday ? which most countries in the world have not yet done ? we also renew our collective determination as a people to prevail in the defence of our political rights and aspirations, principally the right to freely and democratically decide our own future. We are not, as some would constantly focus the issue, a sovereignty problem waiting to be resolved. We are a 21st Century, democratic, European people waiting to have our rights respected. Nobody has the right to negotiate or decide our future other than at our request and with our consent.

And so we look to the future with courage and confidence in the knowledge that our cause is just and right.

I hope that we will spend two hugely enjoyable days doing what we do best, celebrating together in friendship, family and community.(GC)