MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Gibraltar: Optimism with first tri-partite talks

A first stage of tri-partite talks, United Kingdom, Spain and Gibraltar ended this week in England with signals of optimism and continuation.

In the protected environment of the Foreign Secretary's official country residence Chevening, Kent, the encounter included Gibraltar's Chief Minister, Peter Caruana, Dominick Chilcott, Director for Europe from the Foreign Office and Jose Pons, Director-General for Europe at the Spanish Foreign Ministry.

The encounter was "to discuss possible modalities for three-sided open agenda dialogue", said Mr. Caruana.

"The scheme, the format (of the talks) is different, and it comes as part of a new spirit and a new policy", Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos told reporters in Brussels.

A Gibraltar Government statement last night said that the meeting had been conducted in a friendly and constructive atmosphere. "The discussions relating to the terms of the new forum are going well and the parties will continue in contact over the next few days."

London made a similar description and an identical text, linking the encounter back to the meeting between Jack Straw, Foreign Secretary, and his Spanish counterpart Mr. Moratinos, was also released by Madrid.

This also formally described Mr Caruana as a third party in the terms "Ministro Principal para Gibraltar".

Prior to the meeting Mr. Moratinos stated that this first meeting was good news, "They are going to work, they are going to try and make progress and we must let them work."

Meanwhile, after the meeting Jose Carracao, the PSOE senator for Cadiz province said this was a unique occasion in the discussions of Gibraltar given the first ever presence of the Gibraltar Government with its own voice.

Mr. Carracao said this was an opportunity to cease looking back and instead to look to the future with hope. The moment, he said, is not one for people to get entrenched but on the contrary, for expression of good will for agreements and co-operation.

The problems on both sides need joint solutions and the common wealth of the region is not being properly exploited, he said.

"A practical agreement on the joint use of the airport will be a catalyst for the Gibraltar economy as well as that of La Linea and the rest of the Campo," he said adding that this would also create confidence for further agreements. "All the political, economic and social agents as well as citizens generally have the opportunity to be protagonists in this new forum of dialogue, and of this new process on the dispute which opens a new chapter in the history of the Rock and the Campo," said Mr Carracao urging people to support the process for the good of future generations.

In Madrid ABC anticipated that the talks would consider the joint use of the airport, the inclusion of Spanish airports as alternative destinations in flight paths destined for Gibraltar and the removal of all restrictions to tourist ships that leave Gibraltar and wish to head for Spain.

The airport is seen as a major area for a possible agreement if this can meet the reservations on each side over sovereignty. It is understood that there would have to be agreement on the practicalities including physical and commercial arrangements as well as British military interests.

Since S-11 anti-terrorist concerns have seen Gibraltar increasingly included in EU regulations such as those relating to insurance for air carriers and aircraft operators. The objective of this Regulation is to establish minimum insurance requirements for air carriers and aircraft operators in respect of passengers, baggage, cargo and third parties, for both commercial and private flights. It states specifically that it is intended to apply to Gibraltar airport. "The Governments of Spain and the United Kingdom will inform the Council of the date of application."