Maurice Xiberras, well known integrationist and a former Leader of the Opposition in the 1970s, has withdrawn his public support for Chief Minister Peter Caruana in response to statements in Seville last week regarding the modern Andorra constitution.
Last week Mr Caruana mooted that in the hypothetical situation that a modern Andorra status were offered to Gibraltar he might possibly recommend it to Gibraltarians in a referendum.
Last week Mr Caruana mooted that in the hypothetical situation that a modern Andorra status were offered to Gibraltar he might possibly recommend it to Gibraltarians in a referendum.
The Constitution of Andorra that was agreed by the Andorran people in a referendum 1993 was signed by Andorra's two co-princes, the President of France, and the Bishop of Urgell, who at that time were François Mitterrand and Joan Martí Alanis. The new constitution makes these two officials Andorra's heads of state but also states that Andorra's sovereignty lies with its people. Andorra is a member of the UN.
But in a letter to the Editor Mr Xiberras, who stood with the Gibraltar Labour party in 2003 though not elected, calls for the Chief Minister to offer a full public explanation for his statement and says his ministers should dissociate themselves publicly from the substance of his statement making the comparison with events in the time of Sir Joshua Hassan. He also urges a public retraction of the statements.
"There can be no question of engaging in 'open agenda' political talks, unless and until the Chief Minister retracts his statement," says Mr Xiberras adding that if Mr Caruana does not act and "in conscience holds to his view" then "he should consider where this now leaves British sovereignty and what the implications may be for Gibraltar politics."
But in a letter to the Editor Mr Xiberras, who stood with the Gibraltar Labour party in 2003 though not elected, calls for the Chief Minister to offer a full public explanation for his statement and says his ministers should dissociate themselves publicly from the substance of his statement making the comparison with events in the time of Sir Joshua Hassan. He also urges a public retraction of the statements.
"There can be no question of engaging in 'open agenda' political talks, unless and until the Chief Minister retracts his statement," says Mr Xiberras adding that if Mr Caruana does not act and "in conscience holds to his view" then "he should consider where this now leaves British sovereignty and what the implications may be for Gibraltar politics."
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