Britain and Spain said today they were committed to resolving a centuries-old row over sovereignty of Gibraltar but offered few clues as to how they could overcome their differences.
British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair, speaking after talks in London with Spain's Mr Jose Maria Aznar, said the two leaders were determined to make progress to end the lingering dispute over the British colony which has soured relations and obstructed European Union legislation.
Mr Blair said although neither country had changed its stance over the rocky outcrop on Spain's southern tip, home to 30,000 British citizens, they believed a deal could be reached.
"Of course we will both hold to our traditional positions constitutionally," he told a joint news conference with Mr Aznar.
"What has changed is that there is a process in which these differences can be resolved. It's a process in which two friends and partners are involved," he said.
Mr Aznar said the next negotiations, in Barcelona on November 20th, would focus on the issues of cooperation and sovereignty .
"We are prepared to talk about both issues, exchange ideas, look at each other’s proposals," he said.
London and Madrid have set a target of December 2002 to make progress, triggering suspicion in Gibraltar that Britain is preparing to make concessions to Spain behind its back.
Gibraltar's Chief Minister Mr Peter Caruana, who may boycott the Barcelona talks, said any compromise in which Spain received land rights in return for Gibraltarians retaining British citizenship was ridiculous .
"The idea that somehow 30,000 people sitting in their British homeland are being unreasonable by not wanting to be handed over to Spain is not unreasonable to me, it's perfectly natural," he told BBC radio.