Tripartite Forum for Dialogue
The visit by Moratinos to Gibraltar would be a historical event as never before has a Spanish Foreign Minister crossed the border
09.07.09 - 10:49 -
DETAILS. Peter Caruana talks to the press after the talks in Madrid on Tuesday. / EFE
Tax agreement with Spain
Earlier this week Madrid was the scene for technical talks within the Tripartite Forum for Dialogue between Spain, the UK and Gibraltar. Over three days the Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Peter Caruana, met with Government officials to discuss a number of issues in an attempt to pave the way for a meeting with the UK and Spanish Foreign Ministers in Gibraltar on July 21st.
At a press conference on Tuesday Caruana announced that Spain’s Foreign Minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos would attend the ministerial meeting providing that an agreement is reached beforehand on maritime and environment collaboration. This pact is being held up by Spain’s refusal to accept the waters surrounding the Rock as Gibraltarian.
The visit by Moratinos to Gibraltar would be a historical event as never before has a Spanish Foreign Minister crossed the border. Caruana said that the visit would be a “constructive gesture” and a sign of “the modernisation of 21st century Europe”.
Caruana explained that “much progress” had been made at this week’s Madrid meeting on issues such as taxation, visas, education and customs.
What has been made clear is that Moratinos will not hold bilateral talks with his British counterpart David Miliband on the subject of Gibraltar when, or if, they are both on the Rock for the meeting. “Bilateralism is history”, said Caruana on Tuesday.
