Sep 09 - GSD MPs Will Attend National Day Rally
GSD Members of Parliament will again this year be accepting the invitation to the National Day Rally issued by the SDGG.
A spokesman for the GSD said: "We will be doing so in order to demonstrate solidarity and unity with the rest of Gibraltar on a day of national celebration.
"Our attendance does not, however, alter our long standing policy that since the New Constitution was adopted, Gibraltar enjoys a modern non-colonial relationship with the United Kingdom with the maximum level of self-Government short of independence and compatible with continued British sovereignty. In addition, it is also our position that the 2006 referendum where the people of Gibraltar said yes to the New Constitution constituted an act of self-determination.
"The fact that the UN Committee of 24 has not accepted the reality of that non-colonial relationship, cannot alter the reality that Gibraltar is not in a colonial relationship with the United Kingdom.
"The GSD wishes to take this opportunity to emphasise that on these issues, despite differences of substance with the Government, we are prepared to show solidarity and unity on important days such as National Day. That is why we have reiterated on many occasions that we are prepared to work with the Government on common strategies for lobbying in Spain and elsewhere, and why we are also prepared travel to the UN 4th Committee as part of a Gibraltar Delegation provided we are able to see the text of the speech being delivered in advance.
"It is right that Gibraltar stands united in international fora and that both Government and Opposition plan and prepare jointly for the challenges faced by Gibraltar in the future as a consequence, for example, of the EU referendum. The Opposition continues to be prepared to work with the Government on all these issues.
"Above all, it is important people enjoy themselves with their families."
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