MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Gibraltar: UK-Spain agree on dialogue forum

Britain and Spain have agreed to further consult on how to establish a new forum for dialogue on Gibraltar with an open agenda and with the Overseas Territory having its own voice.

Several cooperation measures to facilitate the start of the work of the forum were also proposed including airport facilities for Gibraltar and an end to restrictions on cruise vessels.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs Miguel Angel Moratinos met this Wednesday in Madrid to consider several bilateral issues including Gibraltar.

At the end of the meeting a joint statement was releases establishing that: "The Ministers have agreed to consider and consult further on how to establish a new forum for dialogue on Gibraltar, with an open agenda, in which Gibraltar would have its own voice. The modalities for this dialogue will be agreed by all the concerned parties.

"Minister Straw welcomes the decision of the Spanish Government to promote local cooperation between Gibraltar and its surrounding area. Both Ministers are glad about the establishment of a Joint Committee Gibraltar Government-Mancomunidad del Campo de Gibraltar to promote the identification and implementation of mutually beneficial local cooperation projects and wish to set out their support for this initiative because of its intrinsic value and the confidence-building atmosphere that it could create. It is understood that for the Spanish government this local co-operation is within the objectives of the Spanish government in relation to the sovereignty of Gibraltar. It is also understood that the British government fully maintains its commitment to honour the wishes of the people of Gibraltar as set out in the preamble of the 1969 Constitution. In the Annex are set out several co-operation measures to facilitate the start of the work of the previously mentioned forum.

ANNEX

? To explore the possibilities to reach an agreement on the airport of Gibraltar under a formula acceptable to all parties. ? To allow the inclusion of Spanish airports as alternative airports in the flight plans whose final destination is the airport of Gibraltar. ? To establish a technical working party to examine and to exchange information on the pensions issue of Spanish ex-workers in Gibraltar, without prejudice to any outcome in respect thereof. ? The Spanish Government shall allow calls at Spanish ports of all pleasure cruise liners having the port of Gibraltar as a previous or subsequent port of call, without any restriction".