Gibraltar stands firm against Rajoy........

THE UK has dismissed calls by the Spanish prime minister to restart talks over the sovereignty of Gibraltar.

Spain's prime minister Mariano Rajoy addresses the United Nations General Assembly in New York

 

- September 29

Mariano Rajoy – speaking at the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York – urged Britain to restart talks under the bilateral Brussels process, which excludes Gibraltar.

But the UK responded to the request by insisting that trilateral talks remained the only ‘credible and constructive’ option, despite Spain withdrawing from the process last year.

“The UK restates its longstanding commitment to the people of Gibraltar that it will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another State against their wishes,” read the statement.

“The UK continues to enjoy strong relations with Spain and will continue to work constructively on all Gibraltar-related issues.”

Gibraltar Government responded by insisting that the Rock was ‘entirely united’ against bilateral talks between the UK and Spain.

“Talks under the Brussels process are unacceptable to the Government and to the people of Gibraltar,” said a spokesman.

“Moreover, successive UK Governments have repeatedly made clear to Spain that they will not ‘engage in any discussion about Gibraltar that the Gibraltarians didn’t want us to engage in’.”