Gib`s foreign policy
Michael Dittrich
Leader of the Opposition stands up for the Falklands at the UN
GIBRALTAR'S Opposition Leader has spoken out in defence of the Falkland
Islands at a United Nations Seminar on decolonisation.
Before addressing the meeting on issues relating to Gibraltar, Joe Bossano
made a "robust rebuttal" of a call from the Argentine delegation for the
seminar to adopt a recommendation that Falkland Islanders do not have the
right of self-determination.
Argentina's argument was that decolonisation of the Falklands was a matter
of territorial integrity and its people had been transplanted to the Islands
illegally by the "occupying power".
Mr Bossano, who visited the Islands in 1992, called this "utter rubbish".
He said Argentina was trying, "...no less than to alter the Charter of the
UN...which says that all peoples have a right to self-determination and, by
virtue of that right, they freely determine their political status and
freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development."
Mr Bossano picked holes in Argentina's argument about the "occupying power".
"What I would like to know is which was the occupying power that provided
the honourable gentleman with his genetic code because he does not look like
an Aztec or an Inca to me.
"What we have in South America, in Argentina where he comes from, are the
people of the occupying power eventually rebelling against their mother
country, Spain, and decolonising. By his criteria they would not be entitled
to that right."
He continued, "As if that were not enough, the honourable member presents
himself before this seminar and produces self serving arguments by
deliberately selectively quoting from the UN established documents list.
"The UN has never said that the people of Gibraltar or the people of the
Falkland Islands don't have the right to self determination because there is
somebody that wants the place in which they live, and they have been living
there in the case of the Falkland Islands only since 1833 and in the case of
Gibraltar only since 1704. That is utter and complete nonsense."
The Falkland Islands were not represented at the seminar and Mr Bossano told
the meeting it would be a "travesty and indeed a democratic deficit" to
consider Argentina's argument "when the Falkland Islanders are not here to
put the contrary case for themselves."
He urged the gathering to "totally ignore the suggestions and
recommendations from the distinguished delegate from Argentina."
The motion proposed by Argentina was not carried and there solution was not
included, only 'noted'.
On Tuesday, Falklands councillors wrote to Mr Bossano to thank him for his
"robust rebuttal" and for his support.
Councillor Roger Edwards said he thought Mr Bossano's speech was
"excellent."
"The Argentine delegate was trying to put an amendment in, Joe stood up and
gave a very firm rebuttal and they didn't even vote on it."
He said the move by Argentina was "not totally unexpected - it's what they
are always likely to do."
He added, "It was a shame that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office or
ourselves didn't have someone there looking out for us.
"We must in future make a marker to try harder to get to that meeting."
Councillor Edwards said that councillors do not often attend the UN
Seminar - a precursor to the New York C24 meeting in June - as it clashes
with the annual budget session. However he added, "I think the future
council should revisit that decision."
He said this episode "highlights once again" the need for the Falklands to
have representation overseas, "... or you can lose out by default."
"We are very lucky to have strong support from Gibraltar."
Michael