Jan 26 - Invitation Withdrawal Sees Picardo Address Politicians & Journalists in Madrid
Initially due to give a talk at the independent Nueva Economia Forum in Madrid on Tuesday 3rd February, the Chief Minister’s invitation to speak at the prestigious Forum was withdrawn last week due to ‘reasons of State’.
The order is said to have come from Spanish Foreign Secretary Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo. According to the Daily Express, the organization was further threatened with ‘sponsorship problems.’
The Gibraltar Government expressed ‘deep sadness that a long standing invitation to the elected representative of the people of Gibraltar should be withdrawn at the apparent instance of prominent members of the Spanish Government.’
A No.6 Statement on the matter said, ‘the address by Mr. Picardo had already been advertised and invitations had been sent by the Forum to many organisations and individuals. The freedom of expression of all citizens is a paramount right, and in a democratic Europe the political representatives of communities such as Gibraltar cannot be silenced.’
The Chief Minister further added that the prevention of his speaking at the Nueva Economia Forum ‘will likely increase interest in the message of the people of Gibraltar.’
Instead, Picardo is now set to address an invited audience of Spanish politicians, journalists and industrialists, as well as others who would have attended the now cancelled event.
The Government has made separate arrangements for Mr. Picardo to deliver the address. Commenting on the matter, the Chief Minister said, ‘the measured, reasonable and democratic views of the elected representatives of the people of Gibraltar cannot be silenced. We will not be deterred. We will prevail in the presentation of our position in our usual respectful and proper manner. Anyone who is interested in truly understanding the reality of Gibraltar and the Gibraltarians will have the opportunity of hearing what we have to say in Madrid, next week, regardless of the attempts that have been made to stop us.’
