TNAG-1218-FCO40-1523-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1983 — Page 165

The Lisbon Agreement

5. The Government remain committed to the 1980 Lisbon

agreement which provides for the lifting of Spanish

restrictions on Gibraltar and, at the same time, the start

of negotiations aimed at overcoming all the differences

between Britain and Spain on Gibraltar. I continue to hope

that the agreement will be implemented before too long.

Attitude of the people of Gibraltar

6. I believe that there is a general recognition in

Gibraltar that the Lisbon agreement provides a realistic way forward in attempting to resolve the difficulties arising from the restrictions which have been placed on their freedom of communication

since the late 1960's.

7. [If pressed] Gibraltarian leaders will be present at the talks.

as part of the British delegation. They will be able to make clear

their own views then.

Reasons for discussions with Spain but not Argentina

8. When in 1980 we signed the Lisbon agreement it was agreed

that Spanish restrictions on Gibraltar would be lifted at

the same time as the start of negotiations with Spain aimed at

overcoming all the differences between us on Gibraltar.

The

basis on which we will carry out these discussions is defined

in the Lisbon agreement which also refers specifically to our commitment

to respect the wishes of the people of Gibraltar.

9.

[If pressed] The House will no doubt agree that, if there

are differences between friends, it is sensible to talk about them.

Spain is our ally in NATO and a prospective partner in the European Community.

10.

[If pressed]

Hostilities in the South Atlantic were not

provoked by the negotiations with successive Argentine Governments.

There can be no question of restarting negotiations with Argentina

on sovereignty over the Falkland Islands as if nothing had

happened. We cannot be expected to negotiate about the Falkland

Islands with a country which has invaded the territory; which

will not renounce the unlawful use of force; which refuses

to take account of the wishes of the Islanders; and which insists on

a predetermined outcome to negotiations. It would be quite wrong to draw a parallel between the attitudes of Spain and Argentina to these two quite separate problems.

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