Gibraltar and Falkland Islands flatly deny any “colonial situations” as was referred to by the foreign ministers of Spain and Argentina, and regret profoundly that two large countries with democratic credentials “seek to gang up to bully two very small territories and in the process completely ignore the right of their people to choose what they want to be”.
A Gibraltarian expert on self determination has rubbished Argentine claims that the decision by a UN Commission to extend Argentina's continental shelf to include the waters that surround the Falklands and South Georgia will be key in the dispute with Britain over the Islands.
The smallest but possibly most exclusive cruise liner to visit Gibraltar this year pulled into port on Thursday. The L’Austral, a French liner, is also the first to make an inaugural call this season. The captain of the ship, Olivier Marien, was met by the Minister for Tourism and the Captain of the Port on board.
Representatives from Gibraltar have attended the annual Seatrade Cruise Global Convention took place in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The event, which took place between March 14-17, brings together professionals from in all aspects of the cruise industry, including cruise lines, ports and ground handlers.
Spain’s Socialist party would continue to advocate “dialogue and friendship” with Gibraltar even if the UK voted to leave the European Union, the PSOE’s MP for Cádiz said during a visit to the Rock.
The caretaker Spanish Foreign Secretary, Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo, has declared that he will bring up the question of Gibraltar ‘the very next day’ if the UK votes to leave the European Union on 23rd June. The interview has been described by the Chief Minister Fabian Picardo as an example of why it's so much more important for Gibraltar to remain in Europe.
The Argentine government announced it downgraded the Malvinas Islands department at the Foreign ministry, but minister Susana Malcorra insisted that the sovereignty claim over the South Atlantic Islands remains as strong as ever and will advance in different forms, probably more subtle, and with Gibraltar as a reference.
A UN watchdog group criticized Ban Ki-moon for his blessings to the UN committee charged with “decolonizing” among others, the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar, at the same time as the 24-nation group elected mass murdering Syria and human rights abusing Venezuela to leadership posts.
A record number of cruises are set to call at Gibraltar this year, representing an 11% increase on last year with an estimated 350,000 passengers from 227 visits. Some 18 cruise ships will make their first ever visits to Gibraltar with six of the brand new vessels selecting Gibraltar as part of their maiden season.
Gibraltar Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Joseph Garcia, has written to the European Commission in order to set the record straight following ‘misinformation’ about Gibraltar propagated by a Spanish MEP. This comes after the Spanish MEP, Ramon Jauregui Atondo, tabled a question before the European Parliament in which he said that Gibraltar ‘facilitates tax evasion and financial crime’.