MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Top Spanish Politician Visits Rock.

Rafael Estrella, PSOE spokesman for the Foreign Affairs Committee at the Congreso, arrived in Gibraltar on Friday for a 48 hour visit.

Stressing that the visit is private "but not without political implications" he signalled optimism that solutions can be found on areas such as the airport and telecommunications including roaming. "The political will now exists," he said suggesting that practical progress is possible under the new process.

The visit was welcomed by Chief Minister Peter Caruana who received Sr Estrella at Government House yesterday afternoon where they observed a minute's silence at 5pm paying respect to the M-11 victims.

The Voice of Gibraltar stood outside in silence during the hour long meeting, with a banner stating in Spanish that if Caruana does not have a veto in talks, the people do. Although Mr. Estrella talked briefly to the group, they felt he was not actually listening.

Speaking in English on GBC television he referred to the problem with Gibraltar telephone numbering caused by Spain's refusal to accept the ITU 350 code for Gibraltar and insisted that the solution involving a Spanish area code, despite its previous rejection locally on technical grounds.

He also suggested a Spanish consular office in Gibraltar and a Spanish House for cultural purposes Mr Caruana said that a consular office as once existed in 1969 and the Gibraltar Government would be "perfectly happy to make that suggestion". "We would be very happy to have a consul here so that non EU nationals resident in Gibraltar can get their visas and as a point of contact here in Gibraltar." He also was happy with the idea of some Spanish cultural representation such as the Instituto Cervantes, stating "We are not going to make art, culture and language prisoners of a political dispute,"

In the evening Mr. Estrella addressed a dinner at the Casino Calpe, an influential private club, attended by businessmen.

By gibnews.net