The Chief Minister, the Hon Fabian Picardo KC MP, has addressed the Fourth Committee of the United Nations General Assembly in New York for the final time as Chief Minister of Gibraltar.

In his address, the Chief Minister reflected on twenty-five years of attending the United Nations and on the consistent case made before the UN by successive generations of Gibraltar’s political leaders. This year also marks eighty years since Gibraltar was first placed on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories.

Mr Picardo reiterated Gibraltar’s position that the right of the people of Gibraltar to self-determination must remain the governing principle of its decolonisation. He recalled the overwhelming results of the 1967 and 2002 referenda and called on the United Nations to act in accordance with the freely and clearly expressed wishes of the Gibraltarians.

The Chief Minister also addressed the historic change that has taken place since his previous appearance before the Committee, following the signing and provisional application of the UK–EU Treaty in respect of Gibraltar.

He highlighted that the Treaty has enabled the removal of the physical frontier barriers while expressly preserving the respective positions on sovereignty, demonstrating that Gibraltar can build a close and constructive relationship with Spain without compromising its rights.

Mr Picardo called on the Fourth Committee to end the continued reliance on outdated decisions and to direct the Committee of 24 to send a visiting mission to Gibraltar, with a view to recommending Gibraltar’s removal from the list of Non-Self-Governing Territories.

Concluding his final address as Chief Minister, Mr Picardo reflected on the generations of Gibraltarians who have defended and developed Gibraltar and reaffirmed that its people’s right to self-determination is inalienable.

The Chief Minister said: “You may outlast this Chief Minister. But you will never outlast the people of Gibraltar. And let me give you some advice. After 80 years, its time to wake up and smell the coffee. Gibraltar belongs ONLY to the Gibraltarians. It always has. And it always will.”