MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“UK uncompromisingly committed to the security and sovereignty of Gibraltar “

Be it in office or in the opposition, faithful to Gibraltar, promised Minister Lidington

UK Europe Minister David Lidington declared that Prime Minister David Cameron “is a firm and loyal friend of Gibraltar and of its people” and the present British Government is “firmly and uncompromisingly committed to the security and the sovereignty of Gibraltar including British Gibraltar Territorial Waters”.

Addressing the 12th Annual Gibraltar Day Reception at the Guildhall, Lidington reiterated that UK will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar could pass under the sovereignty of another state against their freely and democratically expressed wishes.

“Nor will we enter into any sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar itself was not content, because sovereignty in Gibraltar is founded on democracy and the wishes of the people of Gibraltar, not on any narrow conception of any outdated colonial interest.”

Gibraltar Chief Minister Peter Caruana declared that bilateral negations about Gibraltar, on any issue, between the UK and Spain however well-intentioned “as a matter of political architecture represents a violation of, and betrayal of, the political rights of the people of Gibraltar to determine their own political future”.

Bilateralism will never be accepted, said Caruana who welcomed the present UK government’s stance saying it had remained consistent now as it had been when they were in opposition.

“We remain firmly anchored where you would expect us to remain firmly anchored. And that is on a series of un-compromisable political core principles,” the Chief Minister said.

“Gibraltar is not a problem waiting to be resolved. Gibraltar does not act and feel, and others must not act and feel, as if Gibraltar is a problem waiting to be resolved.”

“If we have a problem with our neighbours it is their inability to accept in the 21st century Europe the modern, democratic political realities of Gibraltar which will not change simply because they have a 300 year old hang up about us” underlined Chief Minister Caruana.

“The sovereignty of Gibraltar rests exclusively in Her Majesty the Queen. Over all of Gibraltar, all of it: land, air and every last drop of our territorial waters”.

Mr Caruana said that, much as Gibraltar welcomes an opportunity to embrace Spain in a neighbourly relationship, one based on mutual respect. Much as Gibraltar remains open and willing “even if there were a change of government in Spain in the forthcoming elections” - to engage with them in a trilateral process of dialogue and bridge build and have cooperation agreements.

“All of that is subject to not being expected to sacrifice any of our sovereignty or political positions in the name of good relations.”

Caruana also reported on Gibraltar’s economic progress saying that “we do not cut jobs, we do not cut public services but we do cut taxes”. He added that in a few weeks time, people will experience the “magnificent new airport”-

Finally Minister Lidington also spoke of the military ties. He said the value of the base has been highlighted by dramatic events in the Mediterranean. He expressed gratitude to the contribution made by the Gibraltar Regiment to UK operations such as Afghanistan and paid tribute to the “bravery and professionalism”.