Post by Hutch on Jan 14, 2005 7:59:02 GMT -3
From the Gibraltar Chronicle.
"CADIZ INTELLECTUALS HEAR GIB’S CASE
Peter Caruana, Chief Minister, addressed members of the Ateneo, Cadiz’s 150 year old club on Wednesday night. The talk was held at the Diputacion de Cadiz because of the level of interest. Mr Caruana signed the official visitors book with Paco Cabanas the president of the Diputacion.
With Mr Caruana are Ateneo president Ignacio Moreno Aparicio (centre) and Cadiz University professor Alejandro del Valle. Mr Caruana gave a comprehensive overview of Gibraltar, its people and politics and outlined the new process of dialogue.
Later he responded to a series of lively questions which highlighted how badly informed many in Spain are and the need for such visits.
Sr Moreno closed the session expressing support for the initiative on dialogue and Gibraltar’s role in this. "
"CM at Cadiz Ateneo
CARUANA VOWS TO MAKE CROSS BORDER DIALOGUE SUCCEED
D Searle reports from Cadiz
In a warm reception from the city of Cadiz, both at the 150 year old institution for intellectuals, the Club Ateneo, and with a formal call on the president of the Diputacion de Cadiz Paco Cabanas, Peter Caruana, Chief Minister last night made clear that he would make every effort to make the current process with Spain succeed in the face of the PP Opposition’s campaign.
And meeting the city’s press Mr Caruana also said that he would be happy to meet with Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos when he visits the Campo de Gibraltar. Although no such meeting is planned Mr Caruana told reporters that he would have not have any difficulty in doing so should Sr Moratinos and his officials have an interest. It would not mean any concessions or any victory for any party. It is normal that two democratic leaders, one of a country and the other of a colony, should have no difficulty in meeting and talking “with each other.”<br>Mr Caruana’s visits helps reinforce the message often reiterated in the Campo but not fully appreciated here as to where the current process might go.
“The new process is not structured to find a solution. Spain does not recognise me as the interlocutor on sovereignty. What we are talking about is finding ways of improving the relations between the two countries and separating the sovereignty issues (without prejudice to either side) from the matter of getting on with our day to day lives for the benefit of the citizens of both sides.”<br>Normalisation of relations remained his theme and he was clear that despite the PP campaign there should be no return to the ‘foot on the neck’ politics of the past. Democracies cannot resolve their differences like that, he made clear distinguishing Spain from the China that took Hong Kong.
Gibraltar, he insisted, must decide its own future freely. Mr Caruana could not confirm any dates for coming meetings. "
Spain feels confident enough in its claim over the Rock to put soverignty claims to one side in order to pursue a better relationship.
Does Argentinas refusal to do so have anything to do with a feeling that, deep down, her claim on the FI is not that solid, that its not that strong, that too much time has elapsed? Perhaps Argentina refuses to countenance any temporary suspension of her claims because she feels that would weaken the claim significantly? If Argentinas 'ownership' is so strong, so obvious and has so much support, why is she seemingly terrified of temporarily putting it to one side in order to improve relations with the FI? Is her claim so weak that this would damage it? Or does it come down to 'national pride'?
Hutch
"CADIZ INTELLECTUALS HEAR GIB’S CASE
Peter Caruana, Chief Minister, addressed members of the Ateneo, Cadiz’s 150 year old club on Wednesday night. The talk was held at the Diputacion de Cadiz because of the level of interest. Mr Caruana signed the official visitors book with Paco Cabanas the president of the Diputacion.
With Mr Caruana are Ateneo president Ignacio Moreno Aparicio (centre) and Cadiz University professor Alejandro del Valle. Mr Caruana gave a comprehensive overview of Gibraltar, its people and politics and outlined the new process of dialogue.
Later he responded to a series of lively questions which highlighted how badly informed many in Spain are and the need for such visits.
Sr Moreno closed the session expressing support for the initiative on dialogue and Gibraltar’s role in this. "
"CM at Cadiz Ateneo
CARUANA VOWS TO MAKE CROSS BORDER DIALOGUE SUCCEED
D Searle reports from Cadiz
In a warm reception from the city of Cadiz, both at the 150 year old institution for intellectuals, the Club Ateneo, and with a formal call on the president of the Diputacion de Cadiz Paco Cabanas, Peter Caruana, Chief Minister last night made clear that he would make every effort to make the current process with Spain succeed in the face of the PP Opposition’s campaign.
And meeting the city’s press Mr Caruana also said that he would be happy to meet with Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos when he visits the Campo de Gibraltar. Although no such meeting is planned Mr Caruana told reporters that he would have not have any difficulty in doing so should Sr Moratinos and his officials have an interest. It would not mean any concessions or any victory for any party. It is normal that two democratic leaders, one of a country and the other of a colony, should have no difficulty in meeting and talking “with each other.”<br>Mr Caruana’s visits helps reinforce the message often reiterated in the Campo but not fully appreciated here as to where the current process might go.
“The new process is not structured to find a solution. Spain does not recognise me as the interlocutor on sovereignty. What we are talking about is finding ways of improving the relations between the two countries and separating the sovereignty issues (without prejudice to either side) from the matter of getting on with our day to day lives for the benefit of the citizens of both sides.”<br>Normalisation of relations remained his theme and he was clear that despite the PP campaign there should be no return to the ‘foot on the neck’ politics of the past. Democracies cannot resolve their differences like that, he made clear distinguishing Spain from the China that took Hong Kong.
Gibraltar, he insisted, must decide its own future freely. Mr Caruana could not confirm any dates for coming meetings. "
Spain feels confident enough in its claim over the Rock to put soverignty claims to one side in order to pursue a better relationship.
Does Argentinas refusal to do so have anything to do with a feeling that, deep down, her claim on the FI is not that solid, that its not that strong, that too much time has elapsed? Perhaps Argentina refuses to countenance any temporary suspension of her claims because she feels that would weaken the claim significantly? If Argentinas 'ownership' is so strong, so obvious and has so much support, why is she seemingly terrified of temporarily putting it to one side in order to improve relations with the FI? Is her claim so weak that this would damage it? Or does it come down to 'national pride'?
Hutch