MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Spain praises the “irreversible” tripartite process in Gibraltar

The tripartite process is “irreversible” and there is no turning back. That was the view expressed by Jose Pons, Spain's chief negotiator at the forum in which Gibraltar, Spain and Britain participate as separate parties, reports The Gibraltar Chronicle.

Pons told a gathering of Gibraltar and Campo journalists and guests of GB Airways at the Ritz Hotel, Madrid that what is currently being enjoyed is "normality, and that is no small thing". The remarks come as an announcement on the airport terminal construction go-ahead is expected in Gibraltar imminently. Officials from both Madrid and Gibraltar are currently engaged in discussing the details involved with the new terminal which will set in motion the full airport agreement as opposed to the provisional one now operating. "The process we opened with the Cordoba meeting will continue and is irreversible. That is an important point to make" said Pons. He recalled that Gibraltar's Chief Minister Peter Caruana at the first meeting in Malaga February 2005 had told the press that he had the impression that they were embarking on an irreversible process. That impression had now been confirmed, underlined Pons. "We cannot go back on what we have done over the past two years. To do that would be to go against the will of the people. The obligation of those leading politically is to move along with the aspirations of the people and not against these." Pons said that it is a necessity that they continue to look for methods for, and areas of, agreement. But he also said that sometimes solutions bring with them new problems and it is necessary to transfer these to new ground. "Now we are having a problem of success" said the Spanish diplomat. He exemplified by mentioning the improved flow of traffic at the frontier, which is positive, but that can also be a temptation for a possible increase in contraband. "So we have to be constantly working on problems that may arise purely as a result of the solutions that we come up with". But he insisted there was only one direction: the promotion of the people in the region and their interests, economic progress and good relations. "People must see improvements in their own economy and their lives". In his brief address Pons characterised the territory of Gibraltar as an "abnormality" in the context of today's Europe but said that the effort was nonetheless being made to allow the region to operate normally. "We shall work to move beyond that great abnormality" he said guaranteeing that every effort would be made to promote co-operation. Finally the Spanish diplomat said that the team at Madrid's Foreign Affairs ministry was very conscious of reciprocity and expressed thanks to GB Airways and Iberia and those in the industry "who follow the lead of politicians having the courage to invest in this and restore normality".