MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Gibraltar: Straw welcomes Spanish attitude.

“All parties must work together to ensure Gibraltar's continuing prosperity in future,” United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Jack Straw stated on the eve of his meeting with his Spanish counterpart Miguel Angel Moratinos, speaking at his first Gibraltar Tercentenary function at Gibraltar Day in London at the Guildhall Monday night.

Mr Straw said he welcomed some of the suggestions in the last few months that have emerged from Madrid about listening to the interests and aspirations of the people of Gibraltar, and of developing cooperation in the Campo region. He said he looked forward to discussing these ideas with Mr. Moratinos but warned this would only be fruitful with Gibraltar's full and willing engagement and approval of any outcome. This commitment, he said remained absolutely firm. Mr Straw added "as we celebrate 300 years of shared history I hope we can look forward to the next century with the same confidence and pride."

For his part Chief Minister Peter Caruana said that Gibraltar was a British success story in the Mediterranean. Gibraltar and Gibraltarians, he reminded, had never shied from its commitments to being part of the Great Britain family, "our history is practically synonymous with the history of the armed forces in the last 300 years. We owe all that we are and have to our relationship with Britain."

Mr Caruana said this had allowed identity, determination and prosperity of the Gibraltarians to flourish, "many are the fruits of that relationship, in the last 300 years not only has Britain become part of Gibraltar's heritage but Gibraltar has become part of Britain's."

The Chief Minister added that loyalty was a two way street on the one hand the unswerving loyalty of Gibraltarians to Britain and on the other the steadfast loyalty and support of millions of British people to determine Gibraltar's right to remain British and decide its own future. "This is the British way it could not be any other way - respect for such values is one of the things that means to be British."

In a message to Britain and Spain he said Spain's behaviour should not alter Gibraltar's democratic right to decide its own future, and should not justify and still less require humouring Spain's ambition or feelings that they must be addressed and accommodated. "Gibraltar is a place of self determination and principles wanting to be respected by another member of the European democratic family." He reiterated that Gibraltar was willing to engage Spain in modern democratic dialogue.

Also present at Gibraltar day in London was Defence Minister Geoff Hoon, Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram and Shadow Foreign Secretary Michael Ancram. The reception saw 1,000 guests assemble for the celebrations which this year included a Gibraltar showcase in the great hall with the participation of the band of the Royal Marines and the Gibraltar Regiment and singer Andrea Martin.