Oct 09 - Spain’s UN Message – Bilateral Talks Are The Only Route To Decolonisation
YGTV in New York
Gibraltar is an “anachronism” that can only be decolonized via bilateral negotiations between the UK and Spain – this was the main thrust of the address delivered by the Spanish diplomat Javier Gutierrez at today’s session of the United Nations’ Fourth Committee.
He argued that recent reports of incursions were nothing of the sort and were simply Spanish state vessels “conducting routine operations.”
With regards to Gibraltar’s political and constitutional status, he said that Gibraltar had been “forcibly amputated” from the Spanish mainland and could only return to Spain under a negotiated settlement. Gibraltar, he argued, despite its new constitution, remained a colony and, as such, had no competence in discussions over sovereignty.
Moving on from the supposed colonial status of the Rock – Snr Gutierrez criticized local authorities for “altering dramatically the environment” citing land reclamation and the creation of an artificial reef in 2013 as two recent examples.
The Spanish delegate also argued that many Gibraltar companies were enjoying a “privileged fiscal regime” by being based on the Rock. He said that tobacco smuggling from the Rock had contributed to an economic loss of €798 million for the Andalusian economy.
“We need to defend ourselves from what harms us and abide by our international obligations,” he said.
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