“We´re proud of being British and want to remain so”

By Humphrey Carter GIBRALTAR'S Chief Minister Peter Caruana said yesterday that Spain and Britain “must remember to respect and protect the rights of all Gibraltarians” at the next round of trilateral talks in Palma next week. Speaking on Sky News, the leader of the Gibraltar government and the Rock's Social Democrat Party, said that both Spain and Britain have finally realised and accepted that the issue of sovereignty is “dead and buried.” “These are trilateral talks. No longer is Gibraltar's future an issue for the big boys in Madrid and London to discuss, but an issue which now principally involves Gibraltar,” Caruana said. “The people of Gibraltar have overwhelming support of the general public in the UK and we have a great deal of friends in all political parties. “Britain has finally realised that she and Spain can't start making decisions about Gibraltar and it's sovereignty against the wishes of the 30'000 British Europeans who live there,” he added. “The Gibraltar people have the right to democratically decide there future and that future is no longer about sovereignty, we have made it clear we want to remain British, it's not about the ownership of the Rock. “These talks are about far more important issues such as cross-border co-operation and our democratic future,” Caruana said. “We have presented Britain with a good case, we're no longer a distant issue or a problem for Britain. Gibraltar is Britain's biggest success story in the Mediterranean. We don't cost Britain a penny, at least we haven't for the past 20 years, and we provide Britain with a very valuable military base free of charge. “We govern ourselves, Britain is only responsible for our internal security and external affairs,” Caruana explained, stressing the fact that Gibraltar is not a thorn in the side of Britain and Spain and next week's talks here in Majorca are more important than ever. Caruana flew to New York last night to address the United Nations on why the people of Gibraltar “want to have the same rights as other colonies.” “The main problem as far as Spain is concerned is that Spain thinks that it is the United Kingdom who should hand over sovereignty - against our wishes - but as I've said, it appears that London and Madrid have finally realised the huge amount of public support we have and, by respecting our rights, that there are far more suitable avenues of dialogue to discuss our future,” he added. “Britain should be proud of the 30'000 British Europeans in Gibraltar who are proud of being British and want to continue being British,” he said. Peter Caruana will he holding talks with Britain and Spain in Majorca next Monday and Tuesday.