The flag of the European Union at different points in Gibraltar was lowered over the weekend and replaced by the flag of the Commonwealth, marking Commonwealth Day. It has been traditional for the Commonwealth flag to fly on that day over No.6 Convent Place, the seat of Government in Gibraltar.
The Falkland Islands Government, FIG, has congratulated Gibraltar minister Joe Bossano on being awarded a knighthood in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List for 2018. In a statement in which it described Sir Joe as a “long-standing friend of the Falkland Islands”, FIG said he has spoken vociferously in support of Falkland Islander’s right to self-determination at various international forums.
The Gibraltar Chronicle reports that Britain’s Labour Party this week gave an ‘absolute’ commitment to uphold the right of the people of Gibraltar to self-determination. Speaking at a reception organized by the Gibraltar Government on the fringe of the Labour Party conference in Brighton, Hilary Benn, the shadow Foreign Secretary, was unequivocal with his words.
The people of the non-self governing territories on the United Nations list, like Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands, have to be decolonised in accordance with the wishes of those people in exercise of the right of self determination, said Gibraltar Deputy Chief minister Dr. Joseph Garcia during the opening of the academic symposium on “Self-determination, devolution and independence in the 21st century”
Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne is scheduled to attend the Falkland Islands Liberation ceremony on June 14 in Stanley to mark the 30th anniversary of the recovery of the Islands from invading Argentine forces.