Spain urges the United Kingdom to face the decolonization of Gibraltar, a hindrance contrary to International Law
Spain claims in the UN from the United Kingdom the decolonization of Gibraltar while Picardo defends self-determination and criticizes Francoist resolutions.
The Spanish Government has urged the United Kingdom this Monday to face the "decolonization" of Gibraltar, stressing that it is a "hindrance" incompatible with international legality and that violates Spain`s "territorial integrity." To this end, it has relied on resolutions of the UN General Assembly, references that the Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, has criticized for dating back to the Franco era.
The message was conveyed by Spain`s ambassador to the United Nations, Héctor Gómez, during his intervention on behalf of the Executive before the Special Committee on Decolonization, known as the Committee of 24, meeting in New York. This body, created in 1961 to supervise the decolonization process of non-self-governing territories, currently keeps under observation the situation of 17 territories, including Gibraltar and Western Sahara.
"Spain continues to be a victim of a colonial situation that seriously affects our territorial integrity and that we consider a hindrance contrary to international legality," Gómez affirmed, alluding to resolution 1514, of 1960, and 2353, of 1967. Regarding the latter, he recalled that it "urges its decolonization precisely based on that essential principle of territorial integrity."
The diplomat also cited resolution 3163, of 1973, which called for "the withdrawal of military bases and installations located in non-self-governing territories," in reference to the British military presence in areas not included in the Treaty of Utrecht.
After alluding to the agreement on Gibraltar reached between the EU and the United Kingdom, which will regulate the Rock`s relationship with the Twenty-Seven after `Brexit` from July 15, Gómez stressed that this pact "safeguards the respective legal positions of Spain and the United Kingdom on matters of sovereignty and jurisdiction."
"Spain reiterates its call to the United Kingdom to address the decolonization of Gibraltar," the ambassador stated, expressing the Executive`s confidence that the new framework "will serve to create a new model of coexistence between the inhabitants of Gibraltar and their neighbors in the Campo de Gibraltar and tackle the imbalances derived from the colonial situation."
Before the intervention of the Spanish representative, Picardo took the floor, in what was his last appearance before this UN committee. The chief minister has once again demanded the withdrawal of Gibraltar from the list of non-self-governing territories, where it has been since 1946, and has called for a delegation from the committee to visit the Rock to verify that they have an autonomous government.
Picardo lashes out at UN resolutions promoted during the Franco era
The Gibraltarian leader has denounced that the argument for keeping the territory on said list are "resolutions from the 1960s, obtained thanks to the tireless pressure of General Franco`s murderous dictatorship".
"The case against the Gibraltarians is based on texts promoted through this organization by a tyrant whom contemporary Spain itself repudiates," insisted Picardo, who considers that said resolutions "are not only outdated in International Law and universal morality, they lack foundation" to deny a people their right to self-determination.
"Nothing more and nothing less than a residue of a dead and disgusting dictator," reiterated the chief minister. He recalled that when Franco tried to "suffocate" the Gibraltarians by closing the border gate in 1969, "it was not fully reopened until 16 long years later," and even then the local population resisted.
According to Picardo, "Franco believed he could besiege the Gibraltarians until they submitted and failed because he had not counted on the will of the Gibraltarians." "Let no one in this room ever make the mistake of believing that the determination of the Gibraltarians can be bent," he warned the committee members.
"No border closure has bent it. No pressure campaign has bent it. No passage of time will erode it," he remarked, also celebrating the agreement between London and Brussels, which leaves the right to self-determination of the Gibraltarians "totally intact."
"We can build prosperity with Spain, we can build friendship with Spain," affirmed the chief minister, "but we will never renounce our right to self-determination." "Cooperation yes, always. Capitulation no, never," he concluded, encouraging the raising of "bridges of prosperity where a dictator slammed shut iron doors."
Photo: A view of the UK-occupied Rock of Gibraltar. Source: fotonoticia.
| Themes |
| • Globalization, negative impacts • Local • National • Norms and standards • People under occupation • Public policies • Regional • UN system |
