Spain: Rock talks not in 'crisis'

Blair, left, greets Aznar at Downing Street

LONDON, England -- Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar has denied that talks with Britain on the future of Gibraltar are in crisis.

The Spanish leader was speaking after talks with his British counterpart at Downing Street on Monday.

Both leaders said the talks had been "positive" but refused to comment on whether the discussions over Gibraltar's sovereignty had moved the thorny issue on.

"We know what problems still have to be resolved," Aznar told the news conference after the talks. "We're also fully aware of the difficulties we will face in resolving this. So let's not use...descriptions like crisis."

Blair said the negotiations about the future of the British colony at the southern tip of Spain had "taken part in a positive atmosphere."

He added: "We agreed that talks would carry on, indeed they have been carrying on in a sensible atmosphere."

His comments were backed by Aznar who said discussions had been "positive and constructive."

The issue of Britain's sovereignty over the Rock has been one of discontent between the two countries since the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht which signed it over to the UK.

Monday's talks were predicted to be "difficult" and Blair's official spokesman had attempted to play down any expectations before the meeting, saying they were "not make or break."

Britain gained possession of Gibraltar in 1704

"As negotiations like this go on you do get to the difficult point and we are at that point at the moment," he told the UK news agency, the Press Association.

Instead, the two leaders stressed other issues they had discussed, such as the war against terrorism, the Mideast, Russia's closer relations with NATO, illegal immigration and next month's European Union summit in Seville.

The two governments had acknowledged "real differences" after the last round of negotiations on Gibraltar involving UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw last week.

A recent poll showed 75 percent of British politicians believed Gibraltarians, who oppose the negotiations, should be left alone to decide their own future.

Britain insists any deal must be subject to a referendum of the Rock's inhabitants -- and that result should be "durable."

But Spain objects to the idea that Gibraltarians should be allowed to knock sovereignty off the agenda for a long time by rejecting a deal.

Straw, who was booed by protesters who branded him "traitor," "liar" and "Judas" during his first visit to Gibraltar three weeks ago, told the BBC on Monday: "The people who will finally decide will not be the British Government or the Spanish Government, but the people of Gibraltar in a referendum.

"That was a solemn undertaking given in 1969 to the people of Gibraltar. We absolutely stand by it."

In March, the European Union called on Britain and Spain to end their 300-year-old differences over Gibraltar.