Joint statement on Constitutional talks
Ken
Joint press statement issued on behalf of the Gibraltar and British
delegations to the constitutional talks, Gibraltar, 16 September, 2005.
The UK and Gibraltar delegations have this afternoon finished two days of
talks, held at the Caleta hotel, on the proposals from the Gibraltar
Assembly to revise Gibraltar's constitution.
This constitutes the second round in these exchanges. The first round took
place at Lancaster House in London on 30 November - 1 December last year.
The atmosphere over the course of the two days of talks has been friendly,
constructive and purposeful. Without going into the detail of the substance
of the discussions which remain confidential, there has been a wide measure
of agreement on specific revisions to all the main chapters of the existing
constitution.
On other issues where agreement on the concepts and processes has either
been reached or is close but where the drafting of the wording of the
constitution has not yet been agreed, the sides have undertaken to do
further work and to table revised proposals in due course. There are, in
addition, a small number of important issues where the sides are apart from
each other and where agreement has not yet been reached. The Chief Minister
intends to raise these at a political level with UK government ministers.
The two sides have agreed to exchange views on and drafts of some of the
outstanding issues over the course of the next few weeks. They aim to hold a
third round of discussions shortly thereafter, probably in London.
====================================
Ken
Ken
"Ken" <k...@k1at.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:dgf4hu$8ua$1...@news6.svr.pol.co.uk...
CONSTITUTIONAL TALKS 'PROGRESS'
Chief Minister Peter Caruana was yesterday cautiously optimistic that a new
constitutional text could be produced early next year, at the conclusion of
the second round of talks between the Gibraltar Government-led committee and
the team of UK officials.
"There is evidence of a lot of progress," he declared to the local and
Spanish media outside the Caleta Hotel.
However, although details of the discussions have remained confidential,
both sides have also acknowledged that there are still issues outstanding on
which there had been no agreement.
Mr Caruana will be raising these at a political level with UK Government
ministers.
Meanwhile the Chief Minister reiterated that the object of the exercise is
to produce a new constitutional text "to maximise the level of
self-government" and is also modern and non-colonial.
Mr Caruana said the content of the agreement will remain private and
confidential until it is publicly announced.
For his part UK spokesman Dominick Chilcott said the process of drafting a
new constitution was complex given the multi-layered nature of such a text.
He also expressed confidence that the process was going well and would
achieve satisfactory results.
Mr Caruana added that there should not be as much of a delay for the third
meeting as there has been between the first and second round of talks.
Leader of the Opposition Joe Bossano and Liberal Party leader Joseph Garcia
were in a less optimistic mood and departed before Messrs Caruana and
Chilcott read out the joint statement.
====================================
So, Caruana in a good mood, Chilcott pleased, Bossano and Garcia less so.
Well, you can't please everyone all of the time. The worrying thing from my
point of view is that the UK delgation is the most pleased, and Chilcott
"expressed confidence that the process was going well and would achieve
satisfactory results."
Satisfactory for who, the UK or Gib?
Ken
Lynx
May be people will soon be able to live in peace, without the "them versus
us" ideal so prevalent in their daily lives, as has been the case for
decades.
Bossano's best commentary is "no". I have yet to hear the man make a
constructive suggestion, relevant to today.
Jim Watt
>May be people will soon be able to live in peace, without the "them versus
>us" ideal so prevalent in their daily lives, as has been the case for
>decades.
The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.
--
Jim Watt
http://www.gibnet.com
Ken
"Jim Watt" <jim...@aol.no_way> wrote in message
news:21bqi1dt5115u2qos...@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 17 Sep 2005 23:53:09 GMT, "Lynx" <M...@home.tranquilo> wrote:
>
>>May be people will soon be able to live in peace, without the "them versus
>>us" ideal so prevalent in their daily lives, as has been the case for
>>decades.
>
> The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.
In my field of work, we say the price of safety is eternal vigilance. Same
thing really.
Ken
Jim Watt
wrote:
Indeed and its very appropriate in both areas
Lynx
"Jim Watt" <jim...@aol.no_way> wrote in message
news:21bqi1dt5115u2qos...@4ax.com...
>
>>May be people will soon be able to live in peace, without the "them versus
>>us" ideal so prevalent in their daily lives, as has been the case for
>>decades.
>
> The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.
Ain't that the truth brother! Ain't that the truth!
Mano
Lynx
In my field of work, we don't but I'm saying now, eternal vigilance is the
guarantee of no unwanted parasites or pathogens coming through our borders.
There!
In my previous field of work, we didn't but I'm saying now, eternal
vigilance for cheaper airline tickets guarantees we put more bums on our
seats. There again!
Ken
"Lynx" <M...@home.tranquilo> wrote in message
news:v5nXe.55446$FA3....@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
True! The cheapest seats EVER (corrected for inflation) are currently on
sale for selected dates in January, to and from Manchester or Luton to Gib.
Inc taxes, pence under £58 return.
K
Lynx
At those prices who wouldn't travel?! From this neck of the woods, not only
do I have to plan a trip like it were a military campaign, I must also
prepare to pay through the bleeding nose for it! Happy for you ols mate!