MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Gibraltar Breaking News.

Headlines:
Gibraltar/UK/Spain talks next week; Caruana satisfied with constitutional talks; Gibraltar to vote on EU constitution; GB Airways resumes Heathrow link.

Gibraltar/UK/Spain talks next week

The second arm of the current process of Gibraltar relations with Spain are planned to take place next week in England, confirmed the Foreign Office. Set for December 8 the talks would not be at ministerial level but preparatory to the holding of tripartite open agenda talks agreed in Madrid last October with Gibraltar's consent. The leading participants are expected to be Chief Minister Peter Caruana, and the leading British and Spanish diplomats Jose Pons and Dominic Chilcott. Mr Caruana has already held informal talks with Mr. Pons in the build up to the recently formalised co-operation process with the Campo. The Gibraltar Government pointed out that in the joint statement issued in Madrid on October 27 by the British and Spanish Foreign Ministers, with the agreement of the Chief Minister, it is stated that it was agreed to consider and consult further on the establishment of a new forum of dialogue with an open agenda in which Gibraltar would have its own voice. "The statement went on to say that the modalities for this dialogue will be agreed by all the parties concerned. A meeting is to take place in London on 8th December to discuss those modalities and to try and reach agreement on the structure of the new open agenda forum. The meeting will be attended by the Chief Minister, Peter Caruana, Dominick Chilcott Director for Europe at the FCO and Sr Jose Pons, Director for Europe at the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs," said a Government spokesman adding "The Gibraltar Government much looks forward to this long awaited opportunity to try and establish a new process of dialogue on terms and for purposes acceptable to and safe for Gibraltar."

Caruana satisfied with constitutional talks

Gibraltar Chief Minister Peter Caruana expressed satisfaction with the progress made during the first round of constitutional talks with United Kingdom government officials and lawyers. In a statement issued Wednesday, Mr Caruana said the UK side had given a "positive and sympathetic response" to the local proposals. A Gibraltar Government spokesman said: "A first round of talks between the Gibraltar delegation and a team of UK Government officials and lawyers on Gibraltar's proposals for constitutional modernisation concluded yesterday evening. The talks were held in Lancaster House and have involved detailed and intensive discussions during the past two days on a clause by clause basis. The discussions remain confidential to both sides. However, the Gibraltar delegation has expressed satisfaction with the progress that has been made so far. UK officials have generally given a positive and sympathetic response to the proposals which have been tabled by the Gibraltar delegation although agreement on the UK side will ultimately require Ministerial approval. Both sides have agreed to hold a second round of talks as soon as both sides are ready. This is expected in the first quarter of next year"

Gibraltar to vote on EU constitution

Dr Denis MacShane, the Foreign Office Minister responsible for Gibraltar has confirmed that it is Britain's intention to include the people of Gibraltar in the franchise for the referendum on the new European Union constitution. He confirmed the position in answer to a question in the Commons. A Bill will be introduced in Britain to give effect to the Constitutional Treaty for the European Union, subject to a referendum. The Bill will provide for the holding of the referendum including the franchise. Meanwhile Gibraltar's Opposition spokesman Fabian Picardo has welcomed Dr MacShane's remarks. He said: "The Minister was replying to a written question from the Tories who also asked whether British citizens living abroad would have a vote. Dr MacShane said that it would not be appropriate to comment on the exact nature of those provisions until a Bill is published but confirmed it was their intention to include the people of Gibraltar in the franchise for the referendum". Mr Picardo who is the acting Leader of the Opposition said confirmation of this was long overdue, and stated there should have been "no question of Gibraltarians being excluded from voting on a Constitution which, if adopted, would govern Gibraltar and Gibraltarians as much as it would the UK and other British citizens. Previously the position had been that the UK was ?considering' whether or not to include Gibraltar in the referendum, whenever it is held.

GB Airways resumes Heathrow link

GB Airways have re-introduced flights Gibraltar/Heathrow airport with plans to expand further and Gibraltar Transport Minister Joe Holliday suggesting that the Campo is pressing for a commercial agreement on the airport. At a press conference in the Rock Hotel, Mr Holliday expressed optimism that Gibraltar could see direct flights to Madrid in the future, but only if this is achieved without sovereignty implications in the current co-operation process. John Patterson, GB's Managing Director and John Morgan, its Commercial Director, were in Gibraltar to announce that as from January 10 there will be flights to Heathrow operating alongside the existing service from Gatwick and replacing the morning departure from Gatwick and the evening arrival from Gibraltar. An additional flight to Gatwick will operate three times a week through the summer months as from May through to October. That means there will be 17 flights in the summer ?seven to Heathrow and 10 to Gatwick compared to the present 14, a 16% increase in capacity. The aircraft will be A320s and Mr Patterson said with public support that may rise to 21 flights a week. One of the reasons is that the slot now available should allow easy transfer to trans-Atlantic and other major routes. The decision he said, was taken on purely commercial grounds. "Gibraltar remains very much at the heart of our business" he said adding that GB Airways seeks to try to support the growth and development of Gibraltar.