MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Double lock” guarantee for Gibraltar in coming talks

Gibraltar's position is sufficiently secured ? flanks and rear - to allow it to enter into dialogue with Spain and Britain about the British Overseas Territory future even knowing Madrid's ultimate objectives. A “double lock” safeguard enables Gibraltarians to reject any proposal that might emerge even if the local Government itself thought is was worth considering.

That is the position as stated by Chief Minister Peter Caruana in the wake of formalizing Spain's Foreign Secretary Miguel Angel Moratinos initiative recently announced in Madrid.

Mr Caruana added that the document from Foreign Secretary Jack Straw categorically states that Britain is only prepared to engage in a closer dialogue with Spain if the Government of Gibraltar has an equal footing in that dialogue and the discussion takes place on a genuinely open agenda.

As the dust settles, various statements are being made about the initiative. Mr Caruana talking with the local press said he did not believe the Spanish initiative was "a trap", but anyhow the safeguards agreed defend against any action of this kind.

In Spain the FAES foundation aligned with former Conservative Spanish president Jose Aznar predictably accused the ruling Socialist Government of abandoning the traditional Spanish bipartisan policy on Gibraltar.

Mr. Moratinos defended his policy insisting that it would represent practical results for Spain and Mr. Caruana welcomed what he described as the "realisation of everything we have been seeking for dialogue, to take place".

But he also said that Gibraltar will push ahead for constitutional reform. Britain, it is understood, has made clear to Spain that the forthcoming discussions on constitutional reform are a bilateral Gibraltar-UK matter.