Caruana May Attend Anglo-Spanish Talks

by Ulrika Lomas, Tax-News.com, Brussels

07 January 2002

Gibraltar's Chief Minister, Peter Caruana, indicated last week that he would like to explore the possibility of attending talks between the United Kingdom and Spain over the sovereignty of the Rock, and will hold meetings next week with senior Spanish and British officials to that end.

Mr Caruana originally planned to boycott the talks- which are geared towards finding a 'solution' to the ongoing dispute over Gibraltarian ownership by next summer- over what he saw as the UK's abandonment of the territory following remarks made by Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister Peter Hain in October.

At the time, he explained on BBC Radio 4 that: 'Mr Hain expects the Gibraltar government to go along with talks on the basis that we will be consulted, but that he and Spain will be free to agree whatever they choose over our heads.'

According to a report in Friday's edition of the Gibraltar based newspaper, Panorama, despite his desire to play a part in the Anglo-Spanish talks when they resume, his resolve to have an equal say in matters affecting the territory has not changed, and he will only particpate if he feels that he can 'properly and safely' represent Gibraltar.

In his New Year address, the Chief Minister spoke of his feeling of political impotence in the face of British intentions, and challenged the UK government to put all of the issues under discussion to a referendum, not just those pertaining to 'legal' sovereignty.

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