Look Who's talking
Jim Watt
'Three-sided' talks are informal, says Spain
by JOE GARCIA
The 'three-sided' talks taking place this week are of an informal
nature, according to the Spanish foreign ministry. This clearly means
that, at least at this stage, the Gibraltar government is not being
formally recognised as an entity in its own right.
When the news broke out about the talks, the Spanish foreign ministry
hastened to tell the Spanish news agency Europa Press that it was "an
informal reunion", presumably like going for lunch in the Campo area
between the Spanish director for Europe Josep Pons and the chief
minister Peter Caruana - with the added atraction this time of the
Foreign Office's director for Europe Dominick Chilcott.
THE EMPHASIS
The Spanish describe the meeting as being between Pons and Chilcott,
together with Caruana.
There is a change in emphasis in the way the Foreign Office puts it:
They say that Chilcott will atend on behalf of the UK; Pons and
Caruana will attend on behalf of Spain and Gibraltar respectively.
And No.6 Convent Place says the meeting will be attended by Caruana,
Chilcott and Pons.
THE VENUE
Further, while the Gibraltar Government says the talks will take place
"in London", the Foreign Office says they will take place in Chevening
House in Kent.
The Spanish also say they will be held "in London".
Gibraltar and Spain also agree on the day of the talks: Thursday 8
December. But the Foreign Office says they will be held on "8 and 9
December."
So long as they all arrive at the same place and on the same day, the
talks are due to take place.
These talks are to discuss the modalities and the structure of the new
talks forum promised by Straw and Moratinos on 27 October when they
met in Madrid.
TEA FOR THREE?
If they ever become 'tripartite' they are not yet 'tripartite'.
However, the Foreign Office are calling them "three-party talks".
The Spanish make the point that it is not an easy exercise to
structure the so-called 'two flags, three voices' concept in a manner
that will make everyone happy.
By the way, the new talks forum will include discussions on
sovereignty, but no one wants to put that early on the agenda for fear
that any dialogue might collapse before it starts.
However, the Spanish foreign ministry keep saying that "The Spanish
government has not renounced, not even put to one side, the question
of Spanish sovereignty over Gibraltar”.
ends;
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Jim Watt
http://www.gibnet.com