Letter to the Secretary of State for Foreign
and Commonwealth Affairs from the Chairman of the Committee, 1
November 2004
GIBRALTAR
I have noted with great interest reports of
your meeting with Miguel Angel Moratinos in Madrid last week,
during which you discussed Gibraltar.
I note from the FCO news release that you have
agreed to consider and consult further on how to establish a new
forum for dialogue on Gibraltar, with an open agenda, in which
Gibraltar would have its own voice, and that there are four specific
areas in which progress is envisaged. These are: an agreement
on the airport of Gibraltar under a formula acceptable to all
parties; the inclusion of Spanish airports as alternative airports
in the flight plans whose final destination is the airport of
Gibraltar; establishment of a technical working party to examine
and to exchange information on the pensions issue of Spanish ex-workers
in Gibraltar; and Spanish permission for cruise liners to call
at Spanish ports when they are also calling at Gibraltar.
As you know, the Foreign Affairs Committee has
long taken a close interest in Gibraltar, and especially in the
four areas on which progress is now envisaged. I have no doubt,
therefore, that my colleagues on the Foreign Affairs Committee
would welcome a full report of your meeting with Sr Moratinos,
with particular reference to the four areas set out in the Annex
to the FCO news release of 27 October and summarised above.
Rt Hon Donald Anderson MP
Chairman of the Committee
1 November 2004
| 
