Over thirty Members of the House of Representatives of the United States have co-sponsored a Resolution which backs the right of the people of Gibraltar to determine their own future. This includes Members from both the Democratic and the Republican parties.

Resolution 174 was tabled once again by Congressman George Holding following the US Congressional elections which took place in November last year. The procedure is that this needs to be re-tabled after each new session of Congress commences.

It will be recalled that the Resolution commenced with six co-sponsors the first time round and that support grew to over fifty last year, which is a record number.

The Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia, who is in Washington, personally thanked Congressman Holding and some of the bi-partisan co-sponsors of the Resolution.

The Resolution traces the long-standing connection between Gibraltar and the United States. This dates back to 1801 when the first engagement of the US Navy outside the United States took place from Gibraltar against Barbary Pirates. Dr Garcia reminded Congressmen that in 1917, during the First World War, a United States Rear Admiral, with 40 vessels and 4000 sailors under his command, was based in Gibraltar to participate in convoy operations. In World War Two General Eisenhower planned the recapture of North Africa from headquarters based in tunnels inside the Rock itself.

This strong connection continues to this day with a US submarine, the USS Olympia, currently in port.

The Resolution thanks Gibraltar for the support provided over the centuries and affirms the right of the Gibraltarians to decide their own future.

Dr Garcia has had a packed programme in the United States with over twenty meetings and engagements in a short time. The meetings closed with a call on the Embassy of the United Kingdom to the United States.