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'Good progress' in Gibraltar talks

Straw, left, and Pique
Straw, left, and Pique  


LONDON, England -- Britain and Spain have reported "good progress" in their talks on the future of the British colony Gibraltar.

Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique met with his British counterpart Jack Straw in London on Monday as part of attempts to reach an agreement by the summer.

"We continued to make good progress in our discussions about Gibraltar in the atmosphere of friendship and understanding which links the UK and Spain," the two governments said in a statement.

"Both governments confirmed that their shared objective is to overcome their differences over Gibraltar and to ensure a secure future for Gibraltar in which Gibraltar can preserve its way of life and traditions."

The statement added both countries wanted to ensure Gibralter enjoyed "greater internal self-government and enhanced prosperity."

But Straw said following the talks that Britain did not intend to hand over the island at the southern tip of Spain to Madrid, even though he believed the status quo could not continue.

Straw said: "I am convinced that the people of Gibraltar have more to gain than to lose from this process.

"They will not lose their British citizenship, nor will they lose their traditional way of life.

"In our view, the people of Gibraltar will, however, gain greater self-government and practical benefits of a cooperative relationship with the Kingdom of Spain and its people."

At the weekend the Spanish newspaper El Pais said Britain and Spain had agreed a joint sovereignty deal for "the Rock."

Gibraltar
"The rock:" Long-term irritant in Anglo-Spanish relations  

The paper said Gibraltar's Chief Minister Peter Caruana was told by Straw on January 25 that Britain intended to negotiate a joint declaration of principles with Spain.

Caruana has boycotted talks on the colony's fate because Gibraltar has not been granted a separate delegation at the negotiating table.

Britain's 300-year-long control of the Mediterranean colony has been a persistent irritant in its relations with Spain. Talks on its fate re-started in July 2001 after breaking off in 1987.

Most of Gibraltar's 30,000 residents oppose the transfer of control to Madrid and fear they will be abandoned by Britain.

Britain gained possession of Gibraltar in 1704 and legal control of the strategic port with the Treaty of Utrecht nine years later. The treaty granted Spain the first right to reclaim Gibraltar if its status changed.

Straw urged Gibraltar's Caruana, in an article in the Gibraltar Chronicle, to drop his refusal to take part in the talks, and promised that no changes would be imposed without the support of the colony's people in a referendum.

Monday's talks are the third meeting on the issue between Britain and Spain since Labour revived the so-called Brussels Process first initiated by Margaret Thatcher in 1984.



 
 
 
 


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