MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Gibraltar: Breaking News

Headlines:
Spain to participate in Trafalgar celebration; Spanish travel writers in Gibraltar; La Linea claims forefront of relations; Opposition leader meets Tony Blair. ?I'll stand again says Caruana.

Spain to participate in Trafalgar celebration.

Spain intends to participate in the celebrations for the bicentenary of Trafalgar next year, according to the Madrid daily ABC. The move is described as a bid by Spanish premier Jose Rodriguez Zapatero to mend fences with Tony Blair following Gibraltar's Tercentenary tensions. Spain has already agreed to join the naval review when ships sail into Portsmouth. Carlos Miranda, Spain's new Ambassador to London has approached the British Government to explore other possible acts for broader participation.

Spanish travel writers in Gibraltar.

A group of selected travel journalists from Spain visited Gibraltar this weekend at the invitation of the Gibraltar Tourist Board. The initiative forms part of the Government's strategy to promote Gibraltar as a short break destination to the Spanish tourism market. A Gibraltar Government spokesman said: "The journalists arrive in Gibraltar on Friday 1st October and leave on Sunday 3rd October. They will once again be travelling from Madrid to Algeciras by train, which is the easiest way for potential visitors from Madrid to access Gibraltar." "In tandem with this marketing initiative, the GTB is talking to Spanish operators with a view to developing specific packages including Gibraltar. We are very pleased to see that interest from the travel press in Spain is increasing and that Gibraltar's tourism industry is receiving valuable exposure in the leading travel publications", said Minister for Tourism, Joe Holliday. "Spain's domestic tourism market is very active and the potential benefits for the local industry are considerable." During their visit the travel journalists will experience some of the activities available to visitors and will enjoy Gibraltar's famous hospitality

La Linea claims forefront of relations.

Juan Carlos Juarez, La Línea Mayor has said that the first step for co-operation across the border should be between Gibraltar and La Linea. Commenting on the programme of co-operation dominated by the PSOE mayors of the Campo he told journalists in Spain that there were many politicians "who have not realised or do not want to realize this because they have hidden interests." Mr. Juarez says that La Linea must be part of any process of co-operation and that the issues need to include culture, education, sports and general neighborly activities.

Opposition leader meets Tony Blair.

A GSLP delegation headed by Gibraltar Leader of the Opposition Joe Bossano had the opportunity to spend a few minutes speaking to UK Prime Minister Tony Blair during the Labour Party Conference in Brighton this week. "This has been an opportunity to campaign to get the Gibraltar message across on no negotiations with Spain and the right of self-determination for Gibraltarians" Mr Bossano told the Gibraltar Chronicle. Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and Europe Minister Denis MacShane also exchanged views with Mr Bossano on Gibraltar related issues during the conference. "It has been a very fruitful trip with many of my traditional contacts within the Labour Party now filling important positions in the structure of the party and giving me the opportunity to introduce Fabian and Gilbert to members in the party to follow up those contacts in the future. I also spoke extensively to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott who has been my friend since the 60s when we were both members of the Seaman's Union, and took the opportunity to update him on recent developments and the need to press ahead with the new Constitution to decolonize Gibraltar", underlined Mr. Bossano.

?I'll stand again says Caruana.

Peter Caruana Gibraltar Chief Minister and leader of the GSD intends to stand again at the next general election, he confirmed in an interview with the local broadcasting station. Mr Caruana said he would do all he can to get the public to vote for the GSD. "If you are asking if I have any intention of standing down the answer is no, he told GBC Editor Stephen Neish. The question was posed just as news had broken in Britain that Tony Blair had announced he would be standing at the next elections but not beyond the next term.