"Crer e Querer para Vencer"

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GRUPO AMIGOS DE OLIVENÇA REACT TO NEGOTIATIONS OVER GIBRALTAR On 20 November in Barcelona, the Foreign Affairs ministers of Spain and the United Kingdom established a solemn compromise to reach by the summer of 2002, a "global agreement" which will cover the "cooperation and sovereignty of Gibraltar". Reacting to these diplomatic developments about the dispute of Gibraltar, the Grupo Amigos de Olivença has reminded once more, the necessity of Portugal to alter its position of resignation and weakness before Spain and the urgency of our country to claim our rights. According to a news release by GAO, "the expansion and the good relations which have developed between the two peninsular countries cannot serve, exclusively, for Spain to pursue her economic, cultural and political objectives, as has happened with the opening of the "El Corte Inglés" in Lisbon". To GAO, the aggression which constitutes the occupation of Olivença by Spain, and which represents an "obstacle always present in the peninsular dialogue, will not be resolved with silence or inaction from the Portuguese Government; much less with the supposed Spanish indifference. Also it will not bring results from mere passing of time..." Their communique ended appealing to the Portuguese leaders to have "full conciousness of their duty and obligations" Immediately after the conversations had ended in Barcelona, the Spanish Foreign Minister. José Piqué affirmed that "The negotiations between two sovereign states cannot be dependent upon the wishes of 30,000 Gibraltarians. The opinion of 30,000 people cannot dictate the will of two sovereign states." It will be remembered that the wishes of the inhabitants of Olivença - today in the majority Spanish immigrants - has been presented, by the defenders of Spanish sovereignty, as an argument to legitimise the integration of that territory in the Spanish state, Reacting to these declarations, the President of the Amigos de Olivença, Dr Humberto de Oliveira, affirmed: The Grupo Amigos de Olivença is not surprised that, once more in conducting its external relations the Spanish Government has used its traditional duplicity. Nevertheless, as we always say, it is sufficient to utilise the Spanish argument and apply it to Olivença, something we would do with much more sound reasons."