MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

‘Informal’ talks with Spain to address Bay of Gibraltar incidents and Trilateral Forum

Spanish presidential advisor Bernardino León is considered the architect of the Trilateral Forum

Gibraltar’s Chief Minister met ‘informally’ with President Rodriguez Zapatero’s top Moncloa official Bernardino Leon to seek ways of getting the tripartite (UK, Spain, Gibraltar) process back on its feet.

“These were not negotiations” Mr Caruana stressed. But he made clear, at a press conference in Marbella, Spain that they were attempts to get back to the formal talking table.

Mr Caruana confirmed that the meeting with Mr. León had been informal, as the Moncloa later stated, and he reminded the press that they had known each other a long time. León was the Minister of State at the Spanish Foreign Ministry who had been an architect of the trilateral forum.

The meeting took place in the neighbouring Campo area and talks, besides current issues allegedly also included the waters issue and two recent incidents: the arrest of Spanish officers of two drugs smugglers in Gibraltar waters and the incursion of Spanish navy corvette Atalaya which attempted to order merchant vessels from the area.

The last incursion was viewed as particularly serious and unprecedented, in that a Spanish warship was attempting to interfere with a legitimate and important commercial activity in Gibraltar waters.

In the past, one view has been that incidents involving Guardia Civil vessels could be down to the actions of individual overzealous crews. But the incident with the Spanish Navy ship could point to a more formal strategy at government level.

Gibraltar, Britain and Spain have explored establishing a protocol for law enforcement agencies working the Bay of Gibraltar but progress toward an agreement has stalled against the background of a row over jurisdiction in Gibraltar waters.

In the House of Commons David Lidington the Europe Minister who was in Gibraltar just last month said “the UK remains fully committed to the Trilateral Forum as the best means of improving co-operation to the benefit of all the people in the region. I am confident that both the Spanish and Gibraltar Governments share this aim. Judicial, customs and police co-operation is one of the six areas currently being developed under the auspices of the forum”.

Meanwhile Jose Carracao, the Spanish PSOE senator, described the Spanish navy corvette incursion as “an error” and an “unnecessary gesture” at a time when what was needed was dialogue.

Senator Carracao was among the first in Spain to speak out about the incident, but he did not do so in his official capacity.

“I’m speaking in a personal capacity but, even if just this once, I have to agree with the Gibraltar authorities because this has been an unnecessary gesture, particularly at a time when the Spanish government is saying it would be good to talk” insisted Senator Carracao talking to Spanish reporters.