Pessimist? Realist!
Ken
view nothing of any substance would or could occur unless and until Spain
changed her stance over Gib. While the threat of an unwelcome takeover hung
in the air - while nothing of any substance had changed - nothing of any
substance COULD change.
Gib's CM, PC was very much in favour of these talks representing as they did
and do the first time that Sp has recognised the Gibraltarian as an entity
separate from everyone sle and capable of speaking on his/her own behalf,
and someone who must be heard. Whether they say so in as many words or not
is irrelevant, the fact that the tripartitie talks exist is testimony to
this fact.
We,, much water has flown under numerous bridges and still nothing of any
substance has arisen from these talks. It now transpires in Panorama that PC
is either getting fed up of the lack of movement on a whoel raft of issues,
or is publicly coming round to that point of view that I stated,
unencumbered as I am by public office. Read Panorama anyone?
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'Confidence' and 'delays' at tripartite talks
by Our Political correspondent
The chief minister Peter Caruana is confident that the year 2006 will bring
a package of measures agreed at the tripartite talks, but if nothing is
agreed within the next 6 months, nothing will.
The Spanish pensions claim was the most complicated issue, Mr Caruana told
Gibraltar radio today.
Other issues include the possible joint use of the airport, improvement in
frontier facilities, telecommunications.
Plan for a ministerial meeting to announce the deal were postponed weeks
ago, thus not fulfilling one of the agreed points of an annual meeting being
held at ministerial level. This is now expected early next year, but there
has been no formal announcement by the trilateral forum.
It is now hoped that the ministerial meeting will take place within the
first quarter of the new year.
It is clear that difficulties remain, as became evident last October when,
out of the blue, Mr Caruana said that "there has to be concessions to
Spain."
For his part, the leader of the opposition Joe Bossano has reiterated that
any benefits for Spanish pensioners must also apply to Gibraltar pensioners.
"Whatever they get, our people here must also get," he said.
In opposition circles the point is being made that what was initially
described as 'dialogue', with a difference being drawn between 'dialogue'
and 'negotiations' by Mr Caruana himself, is now clearly one and the same
thing, as made clear by the Spanish negotiator at the tripartite meetings,
Sr Jose Pons, of the Spanish foreign ministry.
The opposition have long been urging that there should be greater progress
with Britain on the constitutional talks, which seek to provide Gibraltar
with a non-colonial relationship with the UK while retaining British
sovereignty. But it would appear this would not go down well in Madrid,
hence the delays.
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So, things could happen - but they either happen in the next 6 months or
they won't happen at all.
I hope I'm wrong.
Ken