GIBRALTAR (Agencies) Chief Minister Peter Caruana said in an interview recently that the solution to the Gibraltar question is the people's right to self-determination and rejected the possibility that any advance on the matter could come about through bilateral discussions or negotiations between Britain and Spain, to the exclusion of Gibraltarians. The comments on TV3 came after the Prince of Asturias, Don Felipe, suggested that both governments should advance in discussions, at a dinner for the Prince of Wales on the latter's recent official visit to Spain. "Bilateralism, as though we were mere observers and not an integral part of the future, is simply not viable," said Caruana, who suggested Don Felipe should make clear what kind of advances he was encouraging.>
The Chief Minister stressed that he wanted the Tripartite Forum to continue the conversations that began in 2004, as bilateral negotiations "would be the negation to the right of self-determination" and a solution more appropriate to the XVIII century.
The right to self-determination is not necessarily inextricably linked to independence, in Caruana's opinion, and he pointed out that there now exists "a degree of normality" in relations with Spain that did not exist before, although there are times when Gibraltar feel the need to defend themselves and those relations become tense.
Gibraltar does not wish to give its back to Spain, with whom it has many links, but this does not mean it should be forced to be part of that country: "Gibraltar is not anti-Spain because we defend our rights and aspirations," said the Chief Minister, adding, "Gibraltar is not the patrimony of the United Kingdom, and less so of Spain."
The Chief Minister stressed that he wanted the Tripartite Forum to continue the conversations that began in 2004, as bilateral negotiations "would be the negation to the right of self-determination" and a solution more appropriate to the XVIII century.
The right to self-determination is not necessarily inextricably linked to independence, in Caruana's opinion, and he pointed out that there now exists "a degree of normality" in relations with Spain that did not exist before, although there are times when Gibraltar feel the need to defend themselves and those relations become tense.
Gibraltar does not wish to give its back to Spain, with whom it has many links, but this does not mean it should be forced to be part of that country: "Gibraltar is not anti-Spain because we defend our rights and aspirations," said the Chief Minister, adding, "Gibraltar is not the patrimony of the United Kingdom, and less so of Spain."
No comments:
Post a Comment