Sep 20 Ad hoc talks does not mean four sides says Government
Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar does not share the view expressed by Spain's Minister of State Gonzalo de Benito regarding the structure for "ad hoc" dialogue that is currently under discussion between Gibraltar, the United Kingdom and Spain.
The Foreign Secretary William Hague made it clear to Mr Margallo - in writing and in agreement with the Government of Gibraltar - that his proposal for "ad hoc" talks was not for four parties (the UK, Spain, Gibraltar and the regional authorities in Andalucia) to meet alongside the EU Commission. The Foreign Secretary specifically emphasised that the proposal is for parties that are relevant to issues being discussed to be present at any such discussions. In some instances that might mean two parties meeting, or three. In some instances that may mean four or more parties. There is no fixed number and no question of the parties always being four.
It is therefore misleading for Mr de Benito to continuously refer to four parties and to give the impression that these four would meet all the time with other relevant entities joining in as and when required.
The next open meeting of the GHA will take place at the Charles Hunt Room, John Mackintosh Hall at 2:30 pm on Tuesday 24th September 2013.
The Gibraltar Government delegates that this week attended the Liberal Democrat party conference in Glasgow took advantage of the event to hold a number of meetings with other Government delegations including the Governments of the Falkland Islands and Jersey.
