MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Gibraltar: UK complains Spanish military restrictions

Great Britain has again brought up with Madrid the question on military restrictions imposed by Spain around Gibraltar, reports the Gibraltar Chronicle.

Answering a question in the UK Parliament from Andrew Rosindell MP, the Europe Minister Caroline Flint said that discussions in the margins of the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) have covered a range of international issues including some specific issues relating to Gibraltar, such as Spanish military restrictions. The Foreign Secretary routinely meets the Spanish Foreign Minister at these meetings. "We make clear that the UK will not enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content" said Ms Flint. Meanwhile the Spanish Foreign Ministry has formally announced the appointment of Julio Montesinos Ramos, a career diplomat, as the Ministry's special delegate in the Campo de Gibraltar. He largely takes on the role played by Esteban Bravo for the past 30 years. Mr. Bravo is retiring in the New Year. Madrid intends to upgrade the office in the context of the current Trilateral Forum (UK, Spain and Gibraltar) and said that the move "reinforces the mechanisms dealing with Gibraltar issues, including the Trilateral Forum for Dialogue, as well as reinforcing the capacity for communication between Gibraltar and Campo Authorities." In the past local talks and agreements have been frustrated because the Campo Authorities had to refer back to Madrid before decisions could be taken.