In a notable turn of events seven ex-Governors write to The Times urging the conclusion of a Gibexit treaty following the recent high-level meeting on subject.
In that letter significantly they reassure the Ministry of Defence [MoD] of the support that Gibraltarians have for the UK military base on Gibraltar.
It is a message that carries the implication that it may be MoD concerns that could be hampering final agreement on Gibexit, due possibly to last minute demands coming from Spain, and which delayed an announcement after the last very high level ministerial Gibexit meeting.
MILITARY BASE
On the MoD they say, “Gibraltar fully supports British interests, including the military base.”
Later they repeat, “Gibraltar fully supports British interests, including the military base. Gibraltarians have always stood by the UK, and we must stand by them now by concluding these important negotiations.”
It is a statement of absolute fact that has been demonstrated for ever historically in Gibraltar, which the MoD should have at the forefront of their minds.
The open question is whether that absolute support will remain so resolute should there be no Gibexit treaty leading to huge suffering among the civilian population of Gibraltar. It is an eventuality best avoided.
COORDINATION OF SEVEN
The ex-Governors are, Lord Luce, Sir David Durie, Sir Francis Richards, Lieutenant General Sir Robert Fulton, Vice-Admiral Sir Adrian Johns, Lieutenant General Sir James Dutton, and Lieutenant General Ed Davis.
The question that pops into one’s mind is, who coordinated all seven of them to produce such a letter? It must be someone close to the Government of Gibraltar.
The letter fully supports the position of the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office [FCDO] and urges the MoD to confide in us Gibraltarians. It is a hugely good and important development.
In that context, it is significant that the rest of the letter essentially follows FCDO and Gibraltar lines, as supported by our own GSLP-Liberal Government. In short it urges that a Gibexit treaty should follow.
TREATY URGED
They “… welcome the positive outcome of the recent meeting between, … the foreign secretary, his Spanish counterpart, the vice-president of the European Commission and the chief minister of Gibraltar.”
They go on to say, “It is important that this should now be followed rapidly by a UK-EU treaty…”, whilst respecting that “… the British Government assurance that it will never compromise on the Rock’s British sovereignty or the right of its people to self-determination… but all sides need to find a way forward that ensures that their economies continue to prosper.”
EU TAKE NOTICE
The EU should take careful notice of the need to avoid human hardship for purely Spanish nationalistic objectives. Its obligation is to ensure social and economic cohesion for the benefit of Gibraltar and its immediate hinterland, which is something that has been so throughout the period of the UK’s membership in the EU as a fellow member with Spain.
The Governors’ put it in terms that, “… all sides need to find a way forward that ensures that their economies continue to prosper.” Hopefully that will be the outcome. Politicians on all sides need to safeguard the economic and social wellbeing of hundreds of thousands of people.
Llanito World 