Jan 06 - Government Says Gibraltar's Sovereignty Is Not A Matter For Discussion

The Government of Gibraltar said the Rock's sovereignty is not a matter for discussion with Spain following the Spanish Government's call for bilateral talks between the UK and Spain on Gibraltar. 

This comes about after the Argentinian Government has called on the UK to discuss sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, with Spain insisting it wants to do the same too with regards to Gibraltar.  

A spokesman for the Government of Gibraltar said: "The sovereignty of Gibraltar is not a matter for discussion or negotiation with Spain. The United Kingdom has declared that the people of Gibraltar enjoy the right to self-determination and that we will never pass on to the sovereignty of another state against our wishes.

"The UK has also agreed not to enter into a process of negotiations with Spain with which Gibraltar is not content. This means that Spain's recently expressed hope for a resumption of bilateral UK-Spain talks on the sovereignty of Gibraltar is at best unrealistic and at worst raising false hopes.

"Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar will never consent to the United Kingdom entering into any process of talks, discussions or negotiations with Spain in respect of the Sovereignty of Gibraltar. 

"We would wish to see Spain finally come into the twenty first century and abandon its medieval claim to Gibraltar and the unacceptable way in which it has recently aggressively pursued it."





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