Junta de Andalucia President Confirms that he has NOT Called for Frontier Closure between Gibraltar and Spain

DESPITE erroneous statements in other newspapers saying that the President of the Junta de Andalucia, Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla had called for the closure of the frontier between Gibraltar and Spain it can be confirmed that this is incorrect.

The Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo spoke to the President when this fake news started to circulate and according to Mr Picardo, Snr Moreno Bonilla has confirmed that those reports are UNTRUE and that he does not believe there is any reason for the border between Spain and Gibraltar should close now.

The President of the Junta told Mr Picardo that he spoke highly of the measures being taken by Gibraltar as a result of Coronavirus, Covid-19 and in the context of the Spanish Government’s own declared State of Alarm.

He said that in a conversation with Prime Minister Sanchez, he had called for a plan to address issues with other borders, but it was a misinterpretation of his words to suggest that this was a reference in any way to the border with Gibraltar.

Snr Moreno Bonilla insisted that the Chief Minister should make this clarification clear and that he would also seek to ensure, himself, that the misinterpretation of his words should be corrected.

The Chief Minister said: “I am very grateful for the very kind words from the President of the Junta during the course of his press conference and for his express clarification when I asked to speak to him.

“The suggestion that Snr Moreno Bonilla had called for the closure of the frontier was contrary to his express statements of support for the attitude Gibraltar is taking in relation to dealing with slowing the inevitable spread of Covid-19.

“The relationship we have established in these past days is a positive one that enables us to address problems of this sort when they arise.”