Mar 26 - Garcia Meets UK Caucus Chair On Capitol Hill
The Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Joseph Garcia, has highlighted the long and historic relationship between Gibraltar and the United States during a series of meetings in Washington. In a busy schedule during the first day of his visit, Dr Garcia held meetings at the offices of both Democratic and Republican members of Congress on Capitol Hill.
Dr Garcia explained the use of the facilities offered by Gibraltar for a period of over 200 years which dates back to the US's first intervention overseas against the Barbary States in the early nineteenth century. Gibraltar also served as the headquarters for General Eisenhower for the launch of Operation Torch during the Second World War and it maintained this strategic importance to this day.
He also highlighted the importance of the right to self-determination.
The series of meetings were organised by former Democratic Congressman Jim Davis of the law firm Holland and Knight. The programme included the offices of the Co-Chairs of the United Kingdom Caucus of members of Congress. A Caucus in the US House of Representatives is similar to an All-Party Group in the United Kingdom Parliament. Dr Garcia met its Republican Co-Chair Representative Joe Wilson.
The Deputy Chief Minister also met Congressman Chuck Fleischmann who currently has an intern from Gibraltar working in his office. The intern, Mr Angelo Cerisola, was given a placement to this office through the programme that the Government has set in motion with The Washington Centre.
It was also possible to renew contact with the Margaret Thatcher Centre of the Heritage Foundation and with Mr David Liston of the Gibraltar-American Council.
Pics: Top left: Dr Garcia with Congressman Fleischmann on Capitol Hill. Below: Dr Garcia, Congressman Fleischmann and Gibraltarian intern Angelo Cerisola. Bottom pic: Dr Garcia, Tony Davis and Ernest Francis with Congressman Wilson.
{fcomment}
