IT TAKES TWO to tango, Mr. Moratinos, whose nickname should be "Mr. Wishful Thinking", and that's to be kind to him:

The Spanish foreign minister said Madrid was to reopen talks with London on the future of Gibraltar next month, it was reported Monday.

In an interview with the Spanish daily El Pais, Miguel Angel Moratinos said: "The time has come for dialogue about Gibraltar."

Moratinos disclosed that when British foreign minister Jack Straw visits Madrid in October the subject of the future of the British colony will be on the agenda.

Spain has traditionally laid claim to the Rock, but Britain has consistently said the decision lay with the inhabitants, who have voted against Spanish sovereignty.

Not so fast, Mr Wishfulthinking, not so fast; shouldn't, you know, ask the other side if they feel like talking?:

There has so far been no comment from the British Foreign Ministry on Moratinos' claims.

Wouldn't hold my breath if I were him. Moratinos is a close friend of Arafat, and it shows: he thinks he can do anything he wants and then expect others not to fight back; and if they do, he portrays himself as a victim. How warm does Moratinos think that Blair's government will be towards talks on Gibraltar or anything, for that matter, after the treason to the coalition in Iraq and to the Iraqi people themselves who deserve all the help so that they can achieve some normalcy for the first time in decades?

Hold on tight, Blair, hold on tight.