MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Liberal International calls on Spain to end coercion campaign against Gibraltar

The Congress met in Rotterdam under the patronage of the liberal VVD party which is in Government in the Netherlands

The Congress of Liberal International, meeting in the Netherlands, has called on the Spanish Government to end the campaign of coercion and economic sanctions against Gibraltar and urged Madrid to return to the Trilateral Forum for Dialogue.

 This call has been made in an official resolution on “The World Today” and it was put forward by the Liberal Party of Gibraltar and formally voted and accepted by the organization.

“I very much welcome that the international Liberal family has come out strongly in support of Gibraltar and has urged Spain to put an end to its campaign of coercion against Gibraltar,” said Lyana Armstrong-Emery local, Liberal Democrat candidate for coming Euro-elections.

Liberal International is one of the three main political internationals in the world. It is the global federation of Liberal and progressive political parties, many of whom are in Government.

The Congress took place in the Dutch town of Rotterdam under the theme of “Enhancing Global Trade”, under the patronage of the liberal VVD party which is in Government. It includes parties like the Liberal Democrats from the United Kingdom and the Gibraltar Liberals, both of whom are also in Government.

In the same resolution, Liberal International has reiterated that the future of Gibraltar must be freely and democratically decided by the people of Gibraltar. It will be recalled that the Secretary General of Liberal International Emil Kirjas visited Gibraltar last year to express solidarity with the people of Gibraltar in view of the continuing Spanish restrictions at the land frontier and elsewhere.

The Leader of the Liberal Party and Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia noted that the local branch has been involved with Liberal International at a senior level for about eighteen years.

“It is important to keep politicians from other countries fully abreast of what is happening in Gibraltar and of just how badly Spain continues to behave. This lobbying is an on-going process leading to action like visits and resolutions of support. This is positive news,” he said.

The full text of the Gibraltar section reads: “Liberal International reiterates that the future of Gibraltar must be freely and democratically decided by the people of Gibraltar. LI welcomes that Member Party, Liberal Party of Gibraltar, is a part of the National Government. Liberal International urges the Government of Spain to return to the Trilateral Forum for Dialogue and calls for an end to the campaign of coercion and economic sanctions against Gibraltar”.