Sep 06 - Ministerial Statement By Chief Minister – Full Text
The following was delivered yesterday evening on GBC television by Mr Picardo:
Good evening
As we start our National Week celebrations this year, I want to reflect on current events and communicate your Government's huge pride in the manner in which every one of you has reacted to recent anti-Gibraltar provocations.
I also want you to know that our Nation's macro-economic performance is not being materially hindered by recent actions at the frontier.
And I want to tell you more about the proposal for "ad hoc" contact with the Spanish government, which we have developed jointly with the UK in the past year and a half.
It is certainly true that in the past year and a half, we have also had to endure a crescendo in the anti-Gibraltar campaign designed to smear the good name of our Nation and our people.
There has been an escalation of rhetoric and action, illegal incursions into British Gibraltar waters culminating with a jet-skier being shot at by the Guardia Civil and we have seen our frontier choked at different times, in particular, in the past five weeks.
Of course, no-one in Gibraltar will believe that even recent actions have anything to do with our creation of an artificial reef.
The reality is that it appears that some in Spain believe that they might somehow advance their sovereignty claims using the tactics that failed in the 1960s.
In fact, the same type of issues arose and the same tactics were deployed against us the last time the Partido Popular were in government in Madrid.
As usual, the heightened rhetoric has included threats and innuendos designed, alongside the action at the frontier, to damage our economy and, thereby, attempt to hinder our self- sufficiency.
This is not new; and it will not work.
On this occasion, however, in an era of 24hours news, incendiary social media comment and provocative television programming, the words and actions from Madrid have been interpreted by many in Spain as a license to spread unprecedented animosity against our people.
This is all largely based on inflammatory statements built on a lack of understanding about the structure of our economy and our lifestyles.
As a result, we have all been concerned and saddened by reports of damage to property, of Gibraltar registered cars burnt and scratched and cases of insults hurled at occupants of Gibraltar registered vehicles.
In the light of this, I am enormously proud - as we all should be - of the calm and measured way in which everyone in Gibraltar has reacted to such antagonism.
This has been the right reaction from all of us. This is what has allowed us to win the argument hands down in the international media.
You have done our history and our future proud by the mature and unflappable way in which you have dealt with the constant incitement.
We are a strong, steadfast and responsible people.
We do not react to these provocations in kind.
Instead, with the United Kingdom, we have been consistently robust.
We have rationally chosen to take the reasonable course.
We make our arguments politically and legally in the appropriate international fora and call on our opponents to do likewise.
Because the people of Gibraltar have never bowed to bullying.
We have not resiled from our continued desire to remain British.
We will not surrender our right to determine the future of our land for ourselves.
And, however more aggressive the pronouncements of the Spanish government may have been in these past five weeks, the resolve of our Nation is still as strong as ever.
The spine of our determination is as solid and unbreakable as the rock itself.
And this week we will celebrate, with our usual flair and dignity the anniversary of the first expression of our free will, the referendum of the 10th of September 1967 and our right to self determination.
That is what National week and our National Day are all about.
The events planned for this year include a magnificent "Mega Concert", which will bring to the Rock internationally renowned artists.
On National Day itself, we will welcome not just our friends from the Westminster Parliament but also members of the European Parliament.
And in a hugely positive innovation, I have this year also invited to join us the Chief Ministers of all the other UK Overseas Territories for important working sessions both before and after the National Day celebrations next Tuesday.
It is the first time that the leaders of the Overseas Territories have been convened to meet together in one of the territories.
I know that you will make all of our visiting guests welcome.
It is also enormously important that we join in welcoming any Spanish visitors who are attracted to the events of National Day and our Mega Concert.
Despite the provocations from a particular and easily identifiable part of the Spanish political spectrum, we have many friends in Spain.
The Spanish workers who cross into Gibraltar every day, their families and Spanish citizens who come to visit Gibraltar are very welcome here.
I know you will continue to make them feel welcome.
They are not responsible for their government's actions and words.
This year, we may find that some sectors of the Spanish media or some right wing groups of radical individuals may seek to come to Gibraltar on National Day or to our concert to provoke adverse reactions from us.
I know that you will all have the good sense to avoid reacting to any such provocations.
Whether it is representatives of Spanish media outlets or Spanish individuals, we all know the best reaction is to walk away from any provocations.
We will all want to turn our backs to any incitements and report any remarks or actions to our excellent law enforcement officials in the RGP who will be out protecting us all on the day as usual.
I know you will want to join me in thanking the RGP and all our emergency services for the work that they do on National Day whilst we all enjoy ourselves.
And have no doubt that the government will be responding to all the lies and defamations spread about Gibraltar in a measured and responsible way at the appropriate time.
Indeed, it has been quite remarkable to see the Spanish authorities take over a year to react to the call for dialogue we have been making since last April on the "ad hoc" formula.
Well, for whatever reason they may be taking that attitude now, we welcome the fact that the offer made by William Hague, a year and half ago with our support, is now going to be progressed.
I have worked closely with the Foreign Secretary to elaborate on this formula.
And, tonight, I want to be crystal clear with you about this proposed dialogue.
There is no question of the sovereignty or future of Gibraltar being raised or discussed at these talks.
The Spanish government has accepted that in their Parliament earlier this week. These talks will not be bilateral or quadrilateral. Again, the Spanish government has accepted that in their Parliament. Gibraltar will have its own distinct voice at any such talks.
The Spanish government has of course also accepted that.
And I can assure you that there will be no agreements on Gibraltar matters without our consent.
As you know, the position of the United Kingdom and Gibraltar has been to create these "ad hoc" opportunities to meet but to do so in the context of re-stating our strong commitment to the parallel trilateral forum for dialogue and the "double-lock" formula that Britain will not transfer the sovereignty of Gibraltar without our consent and will not negotiate sovereignty without our consent.
That is in effect a veto allowing us to prevent any resumption of bilateral talks on sovereignty between the UK and Spain under the Brussels process or otherwise.
There is therefore nothing to fear from the formula we have developed for these "ad hoc" discussions.
And I am sure we will all be very pleased to see the European commission has agreed to David Cameron's call to involve itself in investigating the excessive and disproportionate frontier queues.
We welcome that they should also review the excellent coastal protection works being undertaken at Sandy Bay and the manner in which the new reef in British Gibraltar territorial waters was created.
Remember that the commission has already told Spain that the eastside reclamation has been done properly and legally.
They have immediately told Spain that there is nothing to investigate in respect of our financial services.
Because the one thing that we have on our side are the facts; and we have confidence that once the commission studies the facts, if they once again make a fair and just objective determination of the data, they will once again confirm that Gibraltar has acted entirely legally and properly in everything that we have done.
Indeed you will also have derived great confidence from the way in which you have explicitly seen us work closely and in partnership with UK ministers in the past weeks.
Both sides have worked hard to develop and foster a relationship of cooperation in the conduct of our international relations since we were elected.
That work has brilliantly borne fruit now.
I have seen that work come through in the stalwart responses from the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary and the Minister for Europe.
Believe me, their support is real and not just for the cameras.
So as we start our National week celebrations, rest assured that our economy is not only stable, but actually performing even more strongly than i predicted during the budget session in June.
Rest assured international investment into Gibraltar has not been put-off by the recent problems at the frontier.
And rest assured that Gibraltar will emerge from this assault stronger than ever before; because the course we are navigating is a sure route to our continued growth and prosperity.
So enjoy your National Day celebrations with family and friends safe in the knowledge that the future of our Nation and our people is secure.
Thank you for listening. Goodnight.
