Falklands Legislative Assembly sends greetings to Gibraltar on its National Day
The Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly, the archipelago's elected body, sent a message of greeting on Thursday to the government and people of Gibraltar to mark their National Day, and arranged for the flags of both territories to fly alongside one another throughout the day at Victory Green in Stanley.
On Thursday, the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly extended warm greetings to the government and people of Gibraltar in honor of their National Day. To commemorate the occasion, the assembly arranged for the flags of both territories to be flown side by side at Victory Green in Stanley throughout the day. Describing the two communities as akin, yet separated by an ocean and united by a shared British identity, the assembly emphasized that the sovereignty of a people should rest with that people alone.
Gibraltar's National Day commemorates the 1967 referendum, in which 12,138 out of 12,202 voters opted to maintain their connection with the United Kingdom over 44 who advocated for transfer to Spanish sovereignty. This year's celebration marks the 59th anniversary of that momentous vote. This year's festivities marked a significant milestone, as they were the first since the EU treaty's ratification on July 14 in Brussels.
The treaty, officially implemented from July 15, eliminated routine border checks with Spain, which over 15,000 workers crossed daily. Crucially, the agreement explicitly states that it does not affect British sovereignty or Gibraltar's constitutional status.
Despite being listed as a non-self-governing territory by the United Nations, both Gibraltar and Gibraltar remain under competing territorial claims. While Spain asserts sovereignty over Gibraltar, Argentina contends the same over the Falkland Islands. Neither nation acknowledges the outcomes of their respective referendums as definitive.
In the 2013 Falkland Islands election, 99.8% of voters opted to retain their status as a British overseas territory. The assembly's message about Gibraltar's National Day was delivered during a week marked by heightened tensions surrounding the South American archipelago. Following Argentina's prosecution of oil companies and a British intervention in the House of Commons, the assembly refrained from linking its statement to these recent developments.
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