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Government has no doubts about UK sovereignty over them. As such,
they are covered by the Convention under Article 66 by virtue of
the United Kingdom's ratification of the Convention on 12 April
1988. In accordance with paragraph 1.21 of the Operational
Regulations the UK has requested developing member country status for the purposes of Article 14 and that, not sovereignty, is the issue which the Board should address and, we trust, agree. Falkland Islands is a recipient of UK's bilateral aid programme
(and included in DAC statistics). We, therefore, wish it to have
similar status with MIGA. (See also IDC (88) 61 of April 1988, and
minute dated 28 July from Mr Martin FID/FCO.)
6.
The
Gibraltar: (If Spain, directly or through an intermediary.
seeks to challenge UK's territorial jurisdiction or to insist that
Spain's prior approval is necessary for the Convention to be
applied, or developing member country status granted, to
Gibraltar). Gibraltar is a British colony and the British
Government has responsibility for its international relations.
Gibraltar Constitution makes it clear that Her Majesty's Government
would not change this status other than in accordance with the
freely and democratically expressed wishes of the people of
Gibraltar. It follows that Article 66 applies the Covention to
Gibraltar by virtue of the United Kingdom's ratification on
12 April 1988. The Board should address itself to the issue of
designation as developing member country under paragraph 1.21 of
the Operational Regulations [and not to territorial jurisdiction
which is not before it]. Gibraltar receives bilateral aid from the
United Kingdom - and this is included in DAC statistics and thus should be treated as a developing member country for the purposes
of Article 14. UK has so requested and we trust that the Board
will agree.
(See also IDC (88) 61 of April 1988 and minute dated
26 July 1988 from Mr Paxman of SED/FCO.)
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BACKGROUND
General
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