Bossano to UN 24: Gibraltar ready to delist

GIBRALTAR
(Text and photo: Gibraltar Chronicle) Opposition Leader Joe Bossano was in New York yesterday for his second unilateral lobbying of the United Nations Committee of 24 since Government walked away from that committee in 2008. He called upon the C24 to reject Spain’s territorial integrity arguments and accept Gibraltar for delisting. This is something both he and Chief Minister Peter Caruana have often done at such sessions though never jointly.>

Mr Bossano’s address was one that largely echoed arguments shared by Government rather than, as on previous occasions, stressing the Opposition’s differences with Government.

The Opposition Leader, accompanied by Fabian Picardo MP, urged the C24 to pronounce itself on the new 2006 Gibraltar Constitution and declare if this now meets the criteria for Gibraltar, in its circumstances, having achieved fullest possible measure of self-government.

“If the answer is yes, then the reporting requirement by UK is ended, and we are removed from the list; if the answer is no, then your job is to monitor our continued constitutional evolution until this point is reached,” he said.

In Gibraltar, Mr Bossano and Mr Caruana have clashed regularly over the wisdom of lobbying the C24 in the wake of the new Constitution and the fact that the C24 has been a stonewall to the Rock’s aspirations despite its declared ambitions for promoting self-government and self-determination.

Last week Mr Caruana said that by going Mr Bossano was “usurping the Government’s judgement and the Government’s call”.

Mr Caruana, who will continue to appear before the UN Fourth Committee each year to defend Gibraltar’s sovereignty position said that the C24 is an “utter waste of time” since there is no intention on that committee of modifying their comments or behaviour to accommodate the interests or wishes of the people of Gibraltar.

VISIT

But in the UN yesterday Mr Bossano again pressed the Committee to do its job, look at Gibraltar’s particular circumstances and to take up the Gibraltar Parliament’s unanimous invitation for the Committee to formally visit Gibraltar.

In his address Mr Bossano, highlighting the position that the Queen is Queen of Gibraltar, made reference to the recently issued £5 coin. He said this should be considered when assessing Gibraltar’s constitutional status.

He reiterated the right to self-determination calling Spain’s position a “sham, totally devoid of logic” whilst also raising the issue of Spain’s incursions into territorial waters and the row over airspace.

“Needless to say these hostile acts, makes, us even more determined that our country will never ever, come under Spanish rule and that our self-determination and decolonisation, will succeed.

It is not Spain’s territorial integrity that is under attack and requires your protection, but ours,” he said.

There were no questions from representatives and on thanking him the Chairman made the comment that the Committee must face up to its responsibility to act.