"Belief, and the Will to Win"

Webmaster's Introduction "de Jure" Map of Portugal Portuguese Army Map and Olivença Flag Olivença Timeline Treaty of Alcanizes/Tratado de Alcanizes Treaties Galore War of the Oranges Forgotten Alentejo-Map of Olivença Great Britain and Olivença Gibraltar and Olivença National Press/Imprensa Nacional International Media Opinião Portuguesa OlivençaNet/GAO Forum Olivença Portugal Claims/Reivindica Olivença 1000 Year Overview Archive Guestbook Point of View/Ponto de Vista Questions & Answers Olivença/Portugal Livre E-mail-Contact Me Links/Ligações: Grupo dos Amigos de Olivença "Crer e Querer para Vencer"

OLIVENÇA INTERNATIONAL DISPUTE Forum Olivença Manifesto Portugal OlivencaOnline Informação Olivença Campanha por Olivença Imigrantes Portugal and Spain Should Talk about Olivença Spain's (New) Amabassador Interview With the Newspaper Diário de Notícias (DN) on 21 January 2003 During the course of this interview a number of topics were raised including: Portuguese -Spanish relations, NATO, the sinking of the Prestige, the fishing dispute between the two countries, and the new high speed train link. Then it was the turn of Olivença! DN - "As regards to Extremadura (Spain). There is an area of frontier, that which involves Olivença, that Spain considers 'delimeted', but not Portugal*. Both governments repeat that it is not on their bilateral political agendas, but the truth is the problem exists. Why is there no direct dialogue about this matter?" A - "Naturally, there is no agreement between the two positions. Many times, when there is a difference of opinion, the way we talk implies that it has been impossible to arrive at an agreement, the same happens with Gibraltar, with the British." DN - "Gibraltar is different. Between Portugal and Spain there is the proximity of being neighbours. Shouldn't the two countries talk about the problem?" A - "If there is a problem, they should. I believe that the two governments can talk frankly." * (1864:Border agreement between the mouth of Minho river as far as the confluence of the Caia river with the Guadiana. 1926:Border agreement between the confluence of the Cuncos river with the Guadiana to the sea in the Algarve - NB. there is still no official political border agreement between the Caia and the Cuncos where Olivença is located. 24/Jan/2003 Forum Olivença Press Release It's Time for Portugal and Spain to Talk about Olivença On 21 January, the Spanish ambassador to Lisbon, Carlos Carderera Soler, in an interview with the newspaper, Diá'rio de Notícias, recognised the existence of the Olivença dispute which Portugal and Spain oppose each other. In admiting the problem, Spain's ambassador justified the fact that "a difference of opinion" exists to the Luso-Spanish territorial limits in the Olivença region with the argument that it "was impossible to arrive at an agreement". Faced with such a declaration, which goes against the historical and legal facts, the Forum Olivença considers urgent to respectfully remind Madrid's diplomatic representative in Portugal that an agreement between Portugal and Spain already exists, having been established in the Final Act of the Congress of Vienna in 1815, in Article 105 where it states that Spain should endeavour to make every effort to return Olivença to Portugal as soon as posible. As long as Spain does not comply with the Treaty, and chooses to continue to violate Portugal's territorial integrity, and disrespect the fundamental principles of International Rights, Spain places itself on the borderline of the rules of the sound and loyal terms that must govern the conduct of the members of the International Community, and instead presents itself as a country which other States, cannot enter into treaties or agreements, with certainty and confidence. In declaring that "If there is a frontier problem, let's talk (about it)", for the sake of coherence and honesty, the Spanish State can no longer exempt itself from accepting the start (of a process) of negotiations with Portugal with the view to returning the Olivença territory. To those responsible for our diplomacy and the leaders of Portuguese sovereign institutions, the Portuguese people cannot tolerate and refuse the Spanish challenge, that they should not include at once Olivença on the Dipomatic Agenda and propose to Spain the immediate opening of discussions with the view to the fulfilment of the treaty that Spain signed and by which agreed to give back Olivença to Portugal. "The Co-Ordination" ------------ 24/Jan/2003 Forum Olivença Welcome to Spain's Ambassador At the start of a new year and having the Spanish Ambassador started your duties in the last few weeks and having just recently given a great interview on Luso-Spanish relations, the Forum Olivença, in the name of all Oliventians, has thought it right to respectfully welcome you, D. Carlos Carderera Soler, the Diplomatic Representative of Spain to Portugal. The Forum Olivença offers deep felt and sincere wishes that D. Carlos Caraderera Soler may give a kickstart to a new period of Portugal-Spain relations, and, that for Madrid's part, it may take the form of friendship, respect, and truth, and with a transparency, loyalty and values that have been a little lacking in the manner which Spain has acted towards to our country. Concerning the Olivença dispute, whose existence you have recently recognised in an interview with the Diário de Notícias on 21 January, we hope that Spain should cease the scandalous contradictions and incoherence that we have witnessed when comparing with the Gibraltar issue, and wish that Madrid have sufficient maturity to understand that, instead of simple differences of point of view over where to place territorial limits between the two countries, that we face an inadmissible aggression against Portugal's integrity, and stand before a scandalous violation of International Rights, facts that neither dignify nor give honour to the Spanish people.