Sep 06 Commonwealth Parliamentarians back Gibraltar against Spain
At the 59th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference currently being held inJohannesburg, Minister Samantha Sacramento presented a motion before the plenary session of the conference to seek the support of the Commonwealth countries in relation to unacceptable harassment of Gibraltar by Spain.
The resolution adopted by the assembly reads as follows:
"This Assembly notes with concern the reports of continuing harassment of Gibraltar by Spain, including the creation of lengthy delays at the land frontier between the two countries, the threat of imposing air restrictions and numerous maritime incursions into Gibraltar’s waters by the naval and para-military agencies of the Spanish state and considers that this political pressure on Gibraltar is totally unacceptable and that it must cease immediately.”
The resolution was passed by a huge majority and it provoked widespread support from the assembly and from a number of Commonwealth parliamentarians. UK MPs, the Rt Hon Sir James Paice and the Hon Andrew Percy spoke in full support and encouraged the assembly to vote for the motion. The MPs from the Falkland Islands also expressed full support and stated that they stood ‘shoulder to shoulder’ with the people of Gibraltar. The Maltese delegation not only supported the Gibraltar resolution, it further proposed that the parliamentary delegations of the Commonwealth countries that are also members of the EU, namely Malta, the UK and Cyprus, should undertake to raise the matter at EU Parliament level through their respective MEPs.
Other delegates who spoke in favour were the Isle of Man, Uganda, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey and South Africa whilst several other countries expressed their support directly to the Minister. Minister Sacramento was also interviewed by the South African media.
The Johannesburg Conference had been officially opened by the President of the Republic of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, who welcomed more than 600 Parliamentarians and parliamentary officials from approximately 175 Commonwealth Parliaments. The Gibraltar delegation is led by Minister Sacramento who has attended with Jaime Netto MP and Clerk to the Parliament, Mr Melvyn Farrell.
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is composed of the Parliaments and Legislatures in 52 of the 54 Commonwealth nations and their overseas territories. It has a membership of close to 17,000 Members of national, state, provincial and territorial Assemblies.
