Spain, constantly grabbing at straws

Carmen Gomez
It appears that brexit meetings are still on the go for our Ministers; despite all the ground covered so far.
 What is important to us though, is that in said negotiations, they have managed to not only put down their red lines, but so far, have them respected by Spain. This is quite a coup, but at the same time it makes me wonder what we are having to give up, or pay in kind, instead. Our brexit team is also on alert. They have to look out for any last minute changes in the wording of something, which can have a significant impact on negotiations; this includes the appearance of unexpected change requests that aren’t appropriately approved, incorporated, and communicated, that can cause significant issues, and have negative impacts at the end of the day when it is too late to do anything about it.    It is known for adjustments to be called for, stating what needs to be accomplished, but leaving out how the change should be carried out. From past experience we have fallen victims to this way of acting from Spain, who is in the habit of sneaking something in when no ones looking; and worryingly so, British Ministers have been known to do the like during the brexit process. It’s all in the wording!   SPAINS NATURE   It is in Spain’s nature also to make sweeping statements and make us offers on matters they can’t possibly deliver on. Jose Luis Manzanares, Permanent State Councillor and Magistrate of the Spanish Supreme Court, said as much in his blog of August last year, titled “Apunte Veraniego sobre Gibraltar.” He points to the fact that the offer made us by the former foreign affairs minister, as being our best historic opportunity “brexit time,” i.e. that of dual nationality, is not viable. He said what they did not mention was the fact that said plan would require a constitutional reform, that would hardly count with the necessary support of the voters; mainly because of their deep founded fear of its repercussions in other regions or nations of Spain; like that of the Catalans or Basques being entitled to dual nationality.    They are constantly grabbing at straws. What’s this about the discrimination of Spanish workers in Gibraltar? GBC TV should be busy getting a documentary off the ground, involving the workers themselves, telling those Spanish politicians who use them for their own gain; just how secure they are in their workplace and well looked upon in this democratic corner of the world.   Catalyst   Brexit appears to have become the catalyst for many of Spain’s activists, who, lurking in the shadows, have been waiting for their moment to proclaim their demands and aspirations. One of these, the founder of the National Andalucía Assembly, has said in a recent interview that in four years from now, Andalucía will be governed by nationalist parties. He says they want their own republic and that if they manage to have a deputy in Seville by the next elections in December, history will start to change.    He sees this as a normal move “since we all speak the same”; by that I suppose he means the Spanish language. He has delineated on the map of Spain an area which encompasses Murcia; parts of Badajoz; the Portuguese Algarve and the Rif of Morocco; and according to him all those mentioned, which happen to fall below said line, belong to Andalucia. Since we fall under their line I suppose that includes us as well.    Fun and games we can look forward to, it seems. This, after present and past Spanish foreign affairs ministers, have had their say on what they consider to be theirs; re our territory; and have cut us up in sections accordingly; with their ambassador at the UN, ranting and raving. They constantly refer to Utrecht to give strength to their arguments. Yet it is a well known fact that not once, but on multiple occasions, they have chosen to violate its terms for their own purposes. One such example is that of 1718/1721, in the war of the quadruple alliance; when Spain violated the terms of the treaty of Utrecht in order to attack Austria-controlled Italy. This resulted in the bizarre coalition of the UK, Austria, the Netherlands and the France they had all just fought against. Spain unsurprisingly lost. They can violate terms of treaties; they can practice the terms of “prescription;” yet the UK Government does not have the courage to do so on our behalf!    IMAGINATIVE   Spanish politicians have the same imaginative, perceptive capacity, which Cervantes had in imagining his surroundings enriched with stories and histories; plus they follow no man’s rules except their own. Tax evasion, has been, and still is rife; and in business circles is described by them, as an “entrepreneurial necessity.” In fact, Facebook Spain, has declared one million Euros in losses, and the EU says its losing patience with the company’s tact’s to avoid paying taxes. Taxes are for the birds, as far as the Spanish are concerned, except in the case of Gibraltar; that is.    Oh yes, somehow, they are going to find the way to fastidiate us on this very subject; as with the supposed smuggling and supposed lack of support from our enforcement agencies. All of which is rubbish, because all of it is untrue, and they know it! For years now, Altadis, the Spanish tobacco giant has been saying that the huge amount that comes in from the far and near east, as well as Africa in shipping containers, makes Gibraltar’s trade pale into insignificance. What I don’t understand is why we are having to pay homage once again to their wants. What about ours?     Own right   You know what I think? In 1501 The Spanish Queen Isabelle de Castilla annexed Gibraltar to Spain, granting it its present-day coat of arms, a year later. Our status makes us different from other British Overseas Territories, plus we are a British people in our own right; so I believe that the time has come for us to give some serious thought to disannexing? ourselves, not only as a British territory which we already have done, but  by putting that coat of arms to rest, in the museum archives where it belongs. What do you think?   19-10-18 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR It appears that brexit meetings are still on the go for our Ministers; despite all the ground covered so far. What is important to us though, is that in said negotiations, they have managed to not only put down their red lines, but so far, have them respected by Spain. This is quite a coup, but at the same time it makes me wonder what we are having to give up, or pay in kind, instead. Our brexit team is also on alert. They have to look out for any last minute changes in the wording of something, which can have a significant impact on negotiations; this includes the appearance of unexpected change requests that aren’t appropriately approved, incorporated, and communicated, that can cause significant issues, and have negative impacts at the end of the day when it is too late to do anything about it. 
It is known for adjustments to be called for, stating what needs to be accomplished, but leaving out how the change should be carried out. From past experience we have fallen victims to this way of acting from Spain, who is in the habit of sneaking something in when no ones looking; and worryingly so, British Ministers have been known to do the like during the brexit process. It’s all in the wording!
<b>SPAINS NATURE</b>
It is in Spain’s nature also to make sweeping statements and make us offers on matters they can’t possibly deliver on. Jose Luis Manzanares, Permanent State Councillor and Magistrate of the Spanish Supreme Court, said as much in his blog of August last year, titled “Apunte Veraniego sobre Gibraltar.” He points to the fact that the offer made us by the former foreign affairs minister, as being our best historic opportunity “brexit time,” i.e. that of dual nationality, is not viable. He said what they did not mention was the fact that said plan would require a constitutional reform, that would hardly count with the necessary support of the voters; mainly because of their deep founded fear of its repercussions in other regions or nations of Spain; like that of the Catalans or Basques being entitled to dual nationality. 
They are constantly grabbing at straws. What’s this about the discrimination of Spanish workers in Gibraltar? GBC TV should be busy getting a documentary off the ground, involving the workers themselves, telling those Spanish politicians who use them for their own gain; just how secure they are in their workplace and well looked upon in this democratic corner of the world.
<b>Catalyst</b>
Brexit appears to have become the catalyst for many of Spain’s activists, who, lurking in the shadows, have been waiting for their moment to proclaim their demands and aspirations. One of these, the founder of the National Andalucía Assembly, has said in a recent interview that in four years from now, Andalucía will be governed by nationalist parties. He says they want their own republic and that if they manage to have a deputy in Seville by the next elections in December, history will start to change. 
He sees this as a normal move “since we all speak the same”; by that I suppose he means the Spanish language. He has delineated on the map of Spain an area which encompasses Murcia; parts of Badajoz; the Portuguese Algarve and the Rif of Morocco; and according to him all those mentioned, which happen to fall below said line, belong to Andalucia. Since we fall under their line I suppose that includes us as well. 
Fun and games we can look forward to, it seems. This, after present and past Spanish foreign affairs ministers, have had their say on what they consider to be theirs; re our territory; and have cut us up in sections accordingly; with their ambassador at the UN, ranting and raving. They constantly refer to Utrecht to give strength to their arguments. Yet it is a well known fact that not once, but on multiple occasions, they have chosen to violate its terms for their own purposes. One such example is that of 1718/1721, in the war of the quadruple alliance; when Spain violated the terms of the treaty of Utrecht in order to attack Austria-controlled Italy. This resulted in the bizarre coalition of the UK, Austria, the Netherlands and the France they had all just fought against. Spain unsurprisingly lost. They can violate terms of treaties; they can practice the terms of “prescription;” yet the UK Government does not have the courage to do so on our behalf! 
<b>IMAGINATIVE</b>
Spanish politicians have the same imaginative, perceptive capacity, which Cervantes had in imagining his surroundings enriched with stories and histories; plus they follow no man’s rules except their own. Tax evasion, has been, and still is rife; and in business circles is described by them, as an “entrepreneurial necessity.” In fact, Facebook Spain, has declared one million Euros in losses, and the EU says its losing patience with the company’s tact’s to avoid paying taxes. Taxes are for the birds, as far as the Spanish are concerned, except in the case of Gibraltar; that is. 
Oh yes, somehow, they are going to find the way to fastidiate us on this very subject; as with the supposed smuggling and supposed lack of support from our enforcement agencies. All of which is rubbish, because all of it is untrue, and they know it! For years now, Altadis, the Spanish tobacco giant has been saying that the huge amount that comes in from the far and near east, as well as Africa in shipping containers, makes Gibraltar’s trade pale into insignificance. What I don’t understand is why we are having to pay homage once again to their wants. What about ours?  
<b>Own right</b>
You know what I think? In 1501 The Spanish Queen Isabelle de Castilla annexed Gibraltar to Spain, granting it its present-day coat of arms, a year later. Our status makes us different from other British Overseas Territories, plus we are a British people in our own right; so I believe that the time has come for us to give some serious thought to disannexing? ourselves, not only as a British territory which we already have done, but  by putting that coat of arms to rest, in the museum archives where it belongs. What do you think?
19-10-18 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR