MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Councillors Summers from the Falkland Islands talks to gibnews.net

On September 10th every year Gibraltar celebrates the anniversary of the first referendum, which was held in 1967, as its National Day.

The question at the time was whether the Gibraltarians wished to remain British or to form part of the Spanish state. Nearly forty years on, the question is still being asked, and the answer remains the same.

In the 2002 referendum, with a massive turnout only a handful would consider the possibility of even joint sovereignty. At the political rally on Sunday, the crowd dressed in red and white was certainly not looking for any change. After the last of a number of short speeches, 30,000 balloons were released, which headed south.

It has become customary to invite parliamentarians from the UK to National Day to sample the strength of feeling, and on this occasion Gibraltar welcomed Mr Mike Summers, from the legislative council of the Falkland Islands.

Although familiar with many of the politicians from events like the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, this was his first visit.

Joint sovereignty is an anathema to the Falkland Island and is not seen as a way forward. He says that "like Gibraltar the Falkland Islanders have the right to self-determination and they will choose their future. Although there are similarities in the situation, Spain is a modern well governed European country, and nobody would want to have anything to do with a country like Argentina. There is simply no interest in any kind of relationship or any compromise on sovereignty."

There are also parallels where Argentina seeks restrict flights to the Falklands from other countries, and attempts to sabotage the economy by placing restrictions on companies doing business there.

Generally the UK Government are very supportive of the will of the people. and the newly appointed Governor has stated that he intends to encourage internal self-government.

In the meantime, Gibraltar awaits developments, and the details of an airport agreement which is anticipated to be announced on the 18th September at the culmination of the tri-partite talks backed by Gibraltar's Chief Minister, Peter Caruana.

Support for the last 'airport agreement in 1987 was a factor in the change of Government in 1988 and judging from the somewhat hostile reaction to Mr Caruana from the public, a new agreement will not win votes in an election.

The public reaction to the proposed shared use of the airport in 1987 resulted in a mass demonstration and was never implemented. Given Spain's fierce reaction to Gibraltar's membership of UEFA, shared use of the airport is not seen as the act of a friend, but an attempt to exercise control over an important Gibraltar strategic asset.

Gibnews.net