This stupid question is the one the Spanish government is currently setting out to distract people from the real problems Spain is buried in, i.e. the economical, political and social crisis. Some people still believe in the dead "Glorious Spanish Empire" and cannot bear Gibraltar does not belong to Spain, but to UK. Under the terms of the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, Gibraltar was ceded to Britain in perpetuity, and it seems Spain is still attempting to regain this southern region of the Iberian Peninsula.
It is a tradition in Spain to impose rather to negotiate (Catalans know this very well since they suffer from this behaviour since the 18th century), and following this tradition the Spanish government is not wondering whether Gibraltarians want to stop being British or not. Instead, they claim for Gibraltar to become a region of Spain for the Glory of the Country, because they think that being Spanish is the best thing that could ever happen to a person in this World. No, I'm not kidding. This is a common belief the Spanish media often inculcate to people, for example, by means of the national sports teams.
Catalonia cannot celebrate referendums for its independence from Spain. However Scotland can do it in UK. See the difference? In the referendum celebrated in Gibraltar in 2002, the 98% of Gibraltarians chose not sharing sovereignty with Spain and Britain. Do you know what did the Spanish Minister of Foreign affairs, Ana Palacio, say about this referendum? She described it as illegal !!!! Oh my god!!! These are the same words used by the Spanish governments every time Catalonia claims for a similar referendum!
SUMMARIZING: In Spain, the freedom to decide for oneself is illegal, so Gibraltarians: keep on rejecting being Spanish because if someday you become a region of Spain, you will no longer be able to leave from it!!
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
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