Airstrip One

Gibraltar Precedent

It came too late for the Chagossians in Diego Garcia but the precedent on indigenous consent for changes in sovereignty has also been reaffirmed for the Falkland Islands.

During a press conference held at CARI Martin O’Neill MP, president of the eighth ABC meeting said the British delegation pointed out to the Argentines that the agreement between Britain and Spain, which was subsequently set aside because there was an obvious lack of consent on the part of the Gibraltarians, is a precedent, and that it’s clear that there will not be sovereignty negotiations concerning the Falkland Islands without the consent of the majority of the Islanders.

(3rd November 2003, 22.37)