Gibraltar's appeal for British support

Gibraltar believes its people should decide their future

The government of Gibraltar stepped up its campaign to remain under British sovereignty by taking out a full page advert in a national newspaper.

Featuring a crowd waving Union flags against the background of the Rock, the colourful appeal urges Britons to show their support for the right of Gibraltarians to decide their future.

We don't want our British sovereignty shared, diluted, in this way

Peter Caruana
Gibraltar's chief minister

The advert, entitled: "Gibraltar seeks your support ... No deals with Spain against the wishes of the people of Gibraltar", was placed in the Times newspaper by the colony's government.

It shows growing concerns over negotiations between Britain and Spain over its sovereignty, but Gibraltar Chief Minister Peter Caruana welcomed the failure of the two governments to resolve their differences.

The advert features a brief history of the Rock and lists reasons why it should determine its own future.

'Real difficulties'

It also includes a coupon that British readers can cut out and send to the Gibraltar Government Office in London to register their support for the Rock.

Meanwhile, a working lunch between Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and his Spanish counterpart Josep Pique on Wednesday came at what has been described as a "critical stage" in the talks.

A joint statement said that "good progress" had been made since July 2001 and that both countries remained committed to reach an agreement by the summer.

Caruana: Pleased British-Spanish negotiatians have hit difficulties

"At the same time we both acknowledge that there are real difficulties which remain to be resolved," the ministers said.

But privately British sources at the Foreign Office warned that Spain's reluctance to allow Gibraltarians the right to decide their future could block any deal.

'Settle for failure'

Mr Caruana said this failure to reach agreement was welcomed by Gibraltarians who are strongly against any agreement with Spain.

"That cheers all of us up because we don't want our British sovereignty shared, diluted, in this way," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"Of course our objections to what the foreign secretary and the Foreign Office are engaged in are much more fundamental than the two issues that separate them now.

Mr Straw was accused of treachery and branded 'a Judas' on a recent visit to Gibraltar

"But if all falls down ... so be it. We will settle for any reason for failure."

Mr Caruana said one of the two sticking points was that Mr Straw wanted any deal to be on a permanent basis of a shared sovereignty formula.

But, he said: "The Spaniards are saying 'not on your nelly, we will never give up our claim to full sovereignty.'

"It would seem to give the Spaniards half of what they want and leave the door open for them to come back for the other half and carry on business as usual.

Referendum promise

"They would have, in effect, given up nothing for whatever they might get now.

"The other problem is the defence base. The Spaniards want to share the sovereignty of the naval base and the Ministry of Defence say that this would undermine British defence interests."

Britain has promised Gibraltarians a referendum on their future, but Spain is thought to be reluctant to give the people of the Rock a lasting say on any deal.

Further talks are expected in late June or early July.

But any deal that changes the status quo is fiercely opposed on the Rock and Mr Straw was accused of treachery and branded "a Judas" on a recent visit to Gibraltar.

Premier meeting

The Conservatives have taken up the Gibraltarians' cause, with shadow foreign secretary Michael Ancram accusing ministers of "selling the residents out".

But Prime Minister Tony Blair told MPs on Wednesday that his government would continue negotiating in the way set out in a process begun by the previous Tory government in the mid-1980s.

Earlier, the prime minister's official spokesman said: "Our aim is to try to build a better, stable and more prosperous future for the people of Gibraltar.

"The longer the talks continue, the more you boil down to some of the issues that may cause more difficulty than some of the others."

The issue will be firmly on the agenda again when Spanish premier Jose Maria Aznar visits Mr Blair for a working lunch at Downing Street on Monday.