This
time last week we were all studying the runes in the Spanish press to see what
we could read in to the meeting in Madrid on the Monday between Spain’s Prime
Minister, Mariano Rajoy, and his British counterpart, David Cameron.
The
Foreign Office had made it clear that Gibraltar wasn’t on the agenda: the visit
was part of Cameron’s campaign to persuade EU leaders that reform was
necessary. However the FO did later concede that Rajoy had raised Gibraltar.
Cameron’s
response was to recite his mantra on self-determination and only talks if we
wish it and are there under our own flag. Rajoy outwardly expressed his wish to
engage in talks but added little more. It is hard to see why he would move from
his two flags position although would try to include Gibraltar as part of the
British delegation because he had included the Campo de Gibraltar on theirs.
Well
we know that is a non-starter but Rajoy and Cameron posed for a happy smiling,
handshaking photo call to let us know these two right wing politicians are in
accord on matters other than the Rock.
On
Tuesday it was back to normal. The Guardia Civil patrol boat Río Pas entered
once again our waters and according to quoted diplomatic sources at the Foreign
Office the Royal Navy saw them off. The British Ambassador was ordered to stop
roasting his crumpets in front of the fire and to scurry round to the Madrid
ministry of foreign affairs with a note.
They
haven’t shown me the note but apparently it said London was fed up with the
constant incursions by the Guardia Civil and Armada in to British Gibraltar
territorial waters and it had to stop. If not William Hague is going to stop
drinking Rioja. Trouble is many of the world’s wine producing nations are at
odds with the UK over one thing or another so the Foreign Office carte du vin
must be getting very short indeed.
What
I find extraordinary is that one day Rajoy and Cameron are all lovey-dovey and
the next Madrid sends a gun boat into Dave’s backyard. I know the Foreign Office
has made being two faced into an art form but even the Mandarins would have
waited to Wednesday.
As
far as I am aware neither our Government nor the Convent has issued any
statement on the Madrid talks or the Guardia Civil incident apart from the
Foreign Office statement about Spain raising Gibraltar with Cameron. I know not
the reason but it is one I approve of. Madrid knows that it can cause mischief
by stirring up uncertainty when Spanish and UK government officials meet or
watching us jump each time they poke us with a stick. There’s a time for
protesting and a time for a sharp, knee in the diplomatic bags. On this
occasion we were wiser to go for the later.
Now
pass me my glass of Torres Viña Sol. Anything we can do to boost the Cataluña
economy the better.
