PRESS RELEASE No. 124/98
Date: 23 July 1998
In the light of continuing statements by the Opposition which intentionally distort and misinterpret Government policy, and following personal statements by Mr Solomon. Serruya, the Government wishes to restate its policy in relation to the Airport.
1. The 1987 Airport Agreement is not acceptable and will not be implemented. It is worth recalling the principal (though not the only) reason for this, which is that as interpreted by Spain the Agreement gives the Spanish Government a role in decisions relating to the Airport which prejudices British sovereignty.
2. The Government is not willing to give Spain any role in the "management or control" of the Airport. Nor is the Government willing to pursue any proposal which compromises or concedes on any aspect of sovereignty. The Government is however interested in pursuing the possibility of facilitating expanded use of the Airport on the basis of purely commercial terms and arrangements.
Therefore in a situation where there is no erosion of sovereignty or ownership or political or jurisdictional control, the Government would be willing to consider the participation of Spanish commercial interests and operators in a commercial consortium to develop and operate Gibraltar Airport. This would enable the Airport's economic potential to be realised for the benefit of both Gibraltar and the Campo without either side being required to make political concessions. To describe this as "offering Spain" joint management and control is absurd.