Peter Caruana To Make Crucial Announcement On Sovereignty Sharing Deal

by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London

25 July 2002

Gibraltar's Chief Minister, Peter Caruana is today expected to issue an official rejection of UK Foreign Minister, Jack Straw's recent joint sovereignty declarations.

Speaking earlier in the month, Jack Straw announced that although there are still 'red lines' between the UK and Spain over the sovereignty of Gibraltar, a broad agreement to share sovereignty has been reached.

Since the July 12 announcement, Mr Caruana has been consulting with his ministers, the External Advisory Council and the Council of Representative Bodies on the best way to proceed, and recent reports have suggested that the majority of those consulted are in favour of holding a referendum on the sovereignty sharing deal, and of possible legal action against the British government.

The Chief Minister will address a press conference at 6pm tonight, and will then make a Ministerial statement on GBC Television at 8.30pm, according to government reports.

Peter Caruana's official statement on Jack Straw's announcement has been anxiously awaited, and many feel that this may be one of the important moments of his career as Chief Minister. Describing the anticipatory mood on Wednesday, the Iberia News service observed that:

'His announcement is expected to be one of the most crucial statements the Chief Minister has had to make since being elected, after the UK government has systematically ignored the views of Gibraltar to stop negotiations over sovereignty.'

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