Rock sees visit as pledge by Britain

Press, 4 August 1981, Page 9

Rock sees visit as pledge by Britain

NZPA-Reuter Gibraltar The rapturous welcome given to the Prince and Princess of Wales in Gibraltar has highlighted problems underlying Anglo-Spanish talks on the future of the colony. The police estimated most of the rocky peninsula’s 30,000 population packed the narrow streets to greet the Royal couple as they drove from the airport to the dockside to join the Britannia for a two-week honeymoon cruise. Spain has claimed the strategic skm stretch of rock ever since its capture by the British in 1704, even though it ceded the territory to Britain forever under a treaty signed in 1713. The visit was seen by Gibraltarians as an affirmation of a British pledge not to hand over the Rock to its Spanish neighbours against local wishes. "This was a second referendum,” said one resident, recalling the 1967 ballot in which the local population.

who are of mainly Genoese, Maltese, and British descent, voted overwhelmingly to remain a colony of the British Crown. Peter Isola, leader of the Opposition Democratic Party for British Gibraltar, said the decision by King Juan Carlos not to attend the Royal Wedding had guaranteed an exceptionally warm welcome for the Prince and Princess. He said that Gibraltarians basically distrusted promises by the Madrid Government to uphold their interests if sovereignty were transferred to Spain. Mr Isola said that no understanding could ever be reached between Gibraltarians and the Spanish Government while the 12-year-old blockade imposed by General Franco remained in force. Gibraltar’s economy revolves around the naval dockyard used by British forces and the spending power of nearly 7000 resident servicemen and their wives is a vital source of income.

Mr Isola said that many local businessmen were worried about competition from Spanish entrepreneurs if the border opened, while local workers feared an influx of unemployed Spaniards from nearby towns might undercut the labour market.

Britain agreed in Lisbon last year to open negotiations on Spanish claims to Gibraltar in return for a pledge to reopen the border.

But the accord has still not been implemented, apparently because of Spanish reluctance to give up the bargaining counter of border restrictions before talks actually start. Even if Spain reopens the border unconditionally, it is unlikely to produce a speedy solution to its claims, local politicians say. Gibraltar’s Chief Minister, Sir Joshua Hassan, has said he sees no possibility that S resent or next generation iibraltarians will want to integrate with Spain although in future a majority might take up the option.