APPENDIX 6
Memorandum from Rock Firm (War Veterans)
Group, Gibraltar
1. We had occasion to listen to Mr Hain's
replies to questions by the Committee. The Minister for Europe
has misled the committee in representing Spain as a generous party
to the negotiations. Neither the telephone lines nor the offer
of their National Health Services are gratuitous concessions from
Spain. Spain prohibits the privatised Spanish Company Telefonica
from recognising the International Telephone Code for Gibraltar,
in order to include Gibraltar in the Cadiz exchange, where we
are at her mercy. We already use hospital services from Spain,
like dialysis and scanning, which we pay for. Specialist services
(heart, etc) are undertaken in U.K. hospitals.
2. Spain could not accede to the European
Community, until she lifted the 14 years "siege" and
opened the frontier at Gibraltar. She was at Britains mercy. The
Foreign Office instead of forcing Spain to waive General Franco's
claim (not 300-years-old!), initiated what is now referred to
as the Brussels Process. This resulted in the Lisbon Agreement
of the Tenth April 1980. Spain agreed to re-establish communications
with Gibraltar and suspend the application of the measures then
in force. The measures denied all communication with Spain. Non-recognition
of our International Telephone Code 350. No telephonic communications,
no land, sea or air communications and restrictions of flights
over Spain near Gibraltar. The Falklands War aborted the Lisbon
Agreement!
3. On the 27 November 1984 in Brussels,
Britain and Spain, in a meeting attended by the Gibraltar Chief
Minister, agreed to apply the Lisbon Declaration in all its parts
and the implementation of mutual concessions of E.C. rights and
the establishment of a negotiating process where everything including
sovereignty would be discussed.
4. Seventeen years after the Brussels Declaration
we have no sea communications, no air communications and restricted
land communications. They still do not recognise our 350 Code,
causing many incoming calls through Spain to be lost and Spaniards
can only telephone Gibraltar by using a Cadiz code, which makes
us a part of Spain. All these restrictions should have disappeared
in accordance with the Brussels declaration!
5. Spanish workers enjoy all E.C. rights,
and thousands work in Gibraltar. Gibraltarians are not allowed
to work in the hinterland and have to accept all kinds of curtailment
of European rights. How can we believe in any cooperation agreement
with "democratic Spain"; let alone trust them with even
a hint of a concession on sovereignty?
6. In connection with the Treaty of Utrecht,
how can anyone disagree with that hispanophile Irish historian
Sir Charles Petrie, when in his little red book "Gibraltar"
he wrote Utrecht ceded but Versailles conceded. Even on historical
grounds Spain has no say.
THE LISBON DECLARATION 10 APRIL 1980
Joint Anglo Spanish Statement by the Spanish
Foreign Minister Sr Marcelino Orejas and the British Foreign Secretary
Lord Carrington.
(1) The British and Spanish Governments,
desiring to strengthen their bilateral relations and thus to contribute
to Western solidarity, intend in accordance with the relevant
United Nations Resolutions, to resolve, in a spirit of friendship,
the Gibraltar problem.
(2) Both Governments have therefore agreed
to start negotiations aimed at overcoming all the differences
between then on Gibraltar.
(3) Both Governments have reached agreement
on the reestablishment of direct communications in the region.
The Spanish Government has decided to suspend the application
of the measures at present in force. Both Governments have agreed
that future cooperation should be on the basis of reciprocity
and full equality of rights. They look forward to the future steps
which will be taken on both sides which they believe will open
the way to closer understanding between those directly concerned
in the area.
(4) To this end, both Governments will be
prepared to consider any proposals, which the other may wish to
make, recognising the need to develop practical cooperation on
a mutually beneficial basis.
(5) The Spanish Government, in reaffirming
its position on the re-establishment of the territorial integrity
of Spain, restated its intention that in the outcome of the negotiations
the interests of the Gibraltarians should be fully safeguarded.
For its part the British Government will fully maintain its commitment
to honour the freely and democratically expressed wishes of the
people of Gibraltar as set out in the Preamble to the Gibraltar
Constitution.
(6) Officials on both sides will meet as
soon as possible to prepare the necessary practical steps which
will permit the implementation of the proposals agreed to above.
It is envisaged that these preparations will be completed not
later than 1 June.
THE BRUSSELS DECLARATION 27 NOVEMBER 1984
The Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary, the
Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Howe, and the Spanish Foreign Minister, His
Excellency Sr Don Fernando Moran Lopez, held a meeting in Brussels
on the 27 November 1984 during which they agreed on the way in
which the Spanish and British Governments will apply by not later
than 15 February 1985 the Lisbon Declaration of 10 April 1980
in all its parts. This will involve simultaneously:
(a) The provision of equality and reciprocity
of rights for Spaniards in Gibraltar and Gibraltarians in Spain.
This will be implemented through the mutual concession of the
rights, which the citizens of the E.C. countries enjoy, taking
into account the transitional periods and derogations agreed between
Spain and the E.C. The necessary legislative proposals to achieve
this will be introduced in Spain and Gibraltar. As concerns paid
employment, and recalling the general principle of community preference,
this carries the implication that during the transitional period
each side will be favourably disposed to each other's citizens
when granting work permits.
(b) The establishment of the free movement
of persons, vehicles and goods between Gibraltar and the neighbouring
territory.
(c) The establishment of a negotiating process
aimed at overcoming all the differences between them over Gibraltar
and at promoting cooperation on a mutually beneficial basis on
economic, cultural, touristic, aviation, military and environmental
matters. Both sides accept that the issues of sovereignty will
be discussed in that process. The British Government will fully
maintain its commitment to honour the wishes of the people of
Gibraltar as set out in the Preamble of the 1969 Constitution.
7. Insofar as the airspace in the region
of Gibraltar is concerned, the Spanish Government undertakes to
take the early actions necessary to allow safe and effective air
communications.
8. There will be meetings of working groups,
which will be reviewed periodically in meetings for this purpose
between the Spanish and British Foreign Ministers.
Rock Firm (War Veterans) Group
Gibraltar
November 2001
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