MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Self determination is paramount” says Tory leader hopeful

Dr Liam Fox, currently shadow Foreign Minister for the British Conservative Party and bidding for Tory leadership said that “reaffirmation of Gibraltar's right to self-determination is paramount”.

Addressing the Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce annual dinner this week at the Caleta Hotel he also raised the topic of direct representation of Gibraltar in the UK parliament the possibility of which has previously been rejected by both Conservative and Labour Governments in Britain.

Integration with the UK although enjoying popularity with some on the fringe of Gibraltar politics is not Gibraltar Government policy.

He said that the relationship between Gibraltar and Spain should be like that between any EU partners and pointed to the benefits of economic co-operation with Spain for both sides including the use of infrastructure like the airport.

Urging for a "post colonial" constitutional position for Gibraltar, he pointed to the changes that have taken place with Scotland and Wales as examples of finding a reasonable balance in the relationship.

Dr. Fox, who hopes to replace Michael Howard as Tory leader, reminded the audience that the Conservative Party, under Margaret Thatcher was willing to actively defend British territory in the Falklands.

Dr. Fox who is publicly backed by former Tory leader William Hague moved his campaign sharply to the right with a pledge to halve the abortion limit from 24 to 12 weeks. He also said he had "big reservations" about homosexual marriage and lamenting the deterioration of family values. Officials from the Gibraltar Conservatives will be attending the party conference in Blackpool at the beginning of next month.

UK responds to Spain in UN
The United Kingdom approach on Gibraltar is constructive and based on dialogue in the trilateral forum, through which all could express their views. That was the position as stated by Britain in response to declarations by Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos. Britain, said Simon Williams, the UK UN spokesman, stands, by the people of Gibraltar in respect of their wishes. Mr Moratinos had backed the trilateral process but also pointed to bilateral discussions as the UN resolutions have regularly urged. Sir Emyr Jones Parry, who was closely involved in the shared sovereignty discussions rejected by Gibraltar, is the current UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.