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A8 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 24 November 2018

Brexit deal almost done, but Spain holds out over Gibraltar

By JILL LAWLESS Britain and the EU say the
BARRY HATTON withdrawal agreement
Associated Press won’t be changed but
LONDON (AP) — Spain haven’t ruled out putting
pushed Friday for a cast- something in writing to allay
iron guarantee of its say Spain’s fears.
over the future of Gibraltar May said Friday that “we
as a condition for backing have been working with
a divorce agreement be- the government of Gibral-
tween Britain and European tar and the government
Union, as U.K. Prime Minister of Spain” on measures for
Theresa May battled to win Gibraltar. Chief Minister of
approval for the deal from Gibraltar Fabian Picardo
skeptical politicians and a criticized Spain’s insistence
Brexit-weary populace. on a written guarantee,
Spain’s leader warned he saying Gibraltar — a largely
would oppose the deal, self-governing British over-
which lays out the terms of seas territory — “has dem-
Britain’s departure in March onstrated that we actually
and sets up a framework for want a direct engagement
future relations, if language with Spain on issues.”
wasn’t added on Gibraltar, “Spain is the physical and
the disputed territory at the geographical gateway
tip of the Iberian peninsula. Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May arrives to make a statement outside 10 Downing Street, to Europe for Gibraltar,”
Spanish Prime Minister Pe- London, Thursday Nov. 22, 2018. Picardo told the BBC. “We
dro Sanchez — who is due Associated Press recognize that and there
to join other EU leaders at a powers over future relations prior agreement of Spain.” cerns on Gibraltar, but that is absolutely no need for
Brussels summit on Sunday between the bloc and the Spain doesn’t have a veto he had not yet seen it in us to be vetoed into being
to rubber-stamp the deal British overseas territory. But on the withdrawal agree- writing. brought to the table.”
— tweeted that Britain and Spanish officials are con- ment, which doesn’t have “We have a promise, a Chancellor Angela Merkel’s
Spain “remain far away” cerned that a key clause to be approved unani- commitment, from the Brit- spokesman said Germany
on the issue and “if there in the agreement refer- mously. But it could hold ish government saying they believed outstanding ques-
are no changes, we will ring to U.K.-EU negotiations up a future free-trade deal are ready to ... guarantee tions would be cleared up
veto Brexit.” on their future relationship between Britain and the that they will go along with in time for Sunday’s summit
Spain wants the future of makes no mention of Gi- EU, which would require the clarification we have to go ahead.
the tiny territory, which was braltar. Spanish govern- the approval of all 27 EU requested,” he said. “We assume that open
ceded to Britain in 1713 ment spokeswoman Isabel nations. After a meeting in Brussels questions can be cleared
but is still claimed by Spain, Celaa said Spain required Spain’s junior minister for Friday of senior EU officials, up by Sunday,” spokesman
to be a bilateral issue be- an “absolute guarantee” the European Union, Luis the Spanish government Steffen Seibert said. “That
tween Madrid and London. that any future agreement Marco Aguiriano, said Fri- said negotiations were is being worked on inten-
Last year’s EU guidelines on between the EU and the day that British authorities continuing but not enough sively, so the chancellor
the Brexit negotiations ef- U.K. in matters regarding had made a commitment progress had been made is preparing for the trip to
fectively gave Spain veto Gibraltar “will require the to address Spain’s con- to drop the veto threat. Brussels.”q

Macedonia, Greece say progress made on school books talks

By COSTAS KANTOURIS on,” Greek Deputy Foreign Greece and Macedonia
Associated Press Minister George Katrouga- also pledged to “take ef-
THESSALONIKI, Greece los said at the end of the fective measures to pro-
(AP) — Senior officials from meetings. hibit any hostile actions or
Greece and neighbor Facing strong objections propaganda ... likely to in-
Macedonia said Friday that from opposition parties in cite chauvinism, hostility, ir-
progress has been made in both countries, the name redentism and revisionism.”
talks to revise school books deal would allow Macedo- That action includes remov-
in the two countries as part nia to join NATO. But it still ing references in school
of an effort to end hostility requires a constitutional re- books that could cause of-
between the two countries. vision in Macedonian and fense, and the two coun-
The two Balkan countries ratification by parliament in tries set up a 14-member
are seeking to end de- Greece. joint academic committee
cades of tension with an The two countries have to review them. The com-
agreement that would see been at odds over Mace- mittee held its first meet
Greece’s neighbor change donia’s name since the in Thessaloniki earlier this
its name to North Macedo- Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov answers a question country declared inde- month. “They had a very
nia and both sides takes a during a joint news conference with his Danish counterpart pendence from Yugoslavia constructive meeting ...
series of actions aimed at Anders Samuelsen following their meeting at the foreign ministry in 1991. Greece sees the they approved the meth-
refraining from hostile ac- in Skopje, Macedonia on Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2018. name as a potential threat odology for their work and
tions or rhetoric. Associated Press to the territory and ancient I think the tone and atmo-
\Progress was reviewed isters and Cabinet trade of- meeting. heritage of its own region sphere of the meeting was
at a meeting Friday in the ficials from Greece, Mace- “History should be an op- of Macedonia. very encouraging,” Mace-
northern Greek city of Thes- donia, Bulgaria and Alba- portunity to learn in schools Under a provisional agree- donian Foreign Minister
saloniki where foreign min- nia attended a one-day and not be a (mental) pris- ment reached in June, Nikola Dimitrov said.q