Gibraltar talks

Gibraltarians are promised a referendum

Tony Blair and the Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Maria Aznar, are expected to hold talks on the future of Gibraltar during a meeting at Downing Street today.

After the latest round of negotiations - between British and Spanish officials last week, the two sides said there were "real differences" between them.

Gibraltarians themselves are overwhelmingly opposed to any negotiations, over the sovereignty of the British colony.

click here to watch our interview with Mark Marfey from the London Gibraltar Society

Mark Marfey said:

The main issue is as the talks stand Gibraltar is never consulted. Most are not against dialogue. We are happy to remain British - why is Spain so obsessed by our country, we haven't been asked what we want...one issue hampering the talks is Gibraltar as a strategic naval base...we are proud of our heritage.

Click here to watch our interview with the Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Peter Caruna

Peter Caruna said:

What we are doing in the twenty first century is fighting for our democratic credentials, we're fighting for respect for the rights of a colony. Spain and Britain shouldn't be doing this deal over our heads...we are opposed to joint and full sovereignty, you cannot share sovereignty with two different states and expect us not to be schizophrenic, we are not open to bartering our rights.

(Click on the video icons on the top right hand corner of this page to watch the above interviews.)

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Here is Breakfast's briefing on what's at stake:

HISTORY AND CONFLICT

Our relationship with Gibraltar is a long one and it started nearly 300 years ago when Britain captured the Rock in 1704, during the War of the Spanish Succession.

The Treaty of Utrecht was signed, which handed Gibraltar over to Britain - forever. But, almost immediately, the Spanish tried to capture it back and it's been an area of dispute ever since.

The border was closed in the 60s - and relations there have been pretty poor ever since. It was reopened in 85 - but there are always long queues at the border for the three thousand Spaniards working on the peninsula. And travellers suffer as there are no flights between the two. Telecommunications are a struggle with many telephone calls not getting through and Gibraltar's mobile phones are unworkable on the mainland.

FACTS AND FIGURES

The tiny British Overseas territory covers just 6.5 square kilometres

The population is 27,033 British Citizens>

The Governor of Gibraltar, on behalf of the Queen, and his ministers is responsible for all matters except Foreign policy and defence.

It's free of VAT as well as being a Tax haven.

WHY IS THIS AREA IMPORTANT?

It's the colony's strategic position that makes it so important. It's a key staging-post for all British military operations going in and out of the Mediterranean with excellent trade links.

It's value as a naval base has been proved many times. It was a key point in the anti-submarine campaigns in both World Wars and more recently a British nuclear submarine docked there while waiting for repairs to its reactor.

THE OPTIONS FOR IT'S FUTURE?

The British and Spanish governments could reach an agreement. Officially the Government still insists a deal can be done by the summer - but its looking increasingly unlikely.

A deal proposing joint sovereignty for the colony would be contrary to the principle of self-determination.

Handing back control to Spain isn't on the agenda - the government has promised the people of Gibraltar a referendum on any deal reached between London and Madrid.

And as the Gibraltarians have already shown Jack Straw - they're happy with the status quo and the overwhelming majority want to remain British citizens.

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